Folsom Lake shoots lights out from three-point line, wins rebounding battle to beat Napa Valley in season-opener
By Kyle Foster
Follow on X: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
When a team is taller and can shoot a tad bit better than you can, it takes a near-perfect game to beat them and to hope to keep it competitive.
However, sometimes this doesn’t go to plan because that team has too many tough matchups. Both of these happened on Thursday night at Storm Gym in the first game of the Storm tip-off event when Folsom Lake College beat Napa Valley in the season-opening game, 97-77.
The Falcons (1-0) pulled away as the first half wound down and took a 45-36 lead into the break as they made 7 shots from beyond the arc. In the game, Folsom Lake converted 12 shots from behind the three-point line.
“Our defensive rotations with certain groups were very poor,” Napa Valley College head coach Steve Ball said as to how Folsom shot so well from the three-point line. “When we lose vision, and we give up deep penetration, we can’t contain the basketball. That means that my rotation my help has to go further. So my recovery to my man is I’m not there in time. So now it’s more of an open shot.”
It also didn’t help that Folsom Lake had four scores in double figures. When this happens, it can make it hard to defend because anyone on the floor can kill you.
“Folsom shot the ball really well in the first half, and I thought we withstood that and came back and cut it to nine at the half,” Steve Ball pointed out. “I thought that we were chopping wood in the right direction and then we just turned the ball over too much, and we gave up too many offensive rebounds. Shooting percentage be dammed, it doesn’t matter if you give up 10, 15, 20 extra shots a game because you’re turning the ball over and giving up offensive rebounds.”
Another reason FLC pulled away was the whopping number of rebounds they were able to corral in this game. It seemed like the Falcons got at least one other possession every time they were on offense thanks to their height advantage.
In the early stages of the game, Napa Valley (0-1) kept it close because they were able to play their style, which is to push the pace and score a lot of points on a fast break.
The Storm were able to stay around in this one thanks to their two leading scorers. Leading the way for Napa Valley was Jaleel Turner who finished the contest with a team-high of 19 points. The freshman forward scored 10 points in the second half while also converting 7 of 9 free throw attempts.
“He’s a tough guy (to guard),” Ball said of Turner. “Him and Antione (Thaxton) were two of our best guys at getting on balance and stopping in the paint and getting to the paint. He can absorb a hit, he’s very strong. He’s very tough. He’s only going to get better.”
Finishing the game as Napa’s second-leading scorer was Chris Farrington who added 17 points in the game. He did most of his scoring in the first half of this one where he scored 13 points. The sophomore guard also made 6 of his 7 shots from the charity stripe and one three-pointer in the game.
“I’m just thankful for the opportunity,” Farrington said afterward. “Just happy to be here. Even though we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, I’m still thankful because we can always build off this loss.”
However, the most important thing for Farrington was that he was finally able to play for NVC after being forced to sit for the last two seasons due to injuries suffered before the seasons had started. It was a special occasion with his family on hand to watch him suit up and play for the Storm as well.
“Seeing Chris out on the court gave me a smile,” Ball said. “ He’s such a great human being and to watch him be able to finally do the thing that he loves, it was great. Brought a smile to my face. Very happy for him to be out on the court because he’s endured so much to get here. He can play.”
Farrington, who is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is also looked at as a leader on the team as well.
Others scoring for Napa in the game were Raekwon Bell (7 points), Ethan Williams (7 points), Jerard Jackson (6 points), Jalen Moore (6 points), Jamari Taylor (6 points), Nate Broome (4 points), and Hassan Flemming (2 points).
Napa Valley will be back in action on Friday at 7 p.m. when they conclude the Storm tip-off against Sacramento City College. In the second game of the night, Sacramento City beat College of the Redwoods 92-72.
