UPDATE: The Valencia Vikings boys’ basketball team is on a winning streak, claiming three consecutive victories at the Heritage Christian tournament, including a thrilling 70-65 win over the Calabasas Coyotes last week. Under head coach Greg Fontenette, the team has shown significant improvement compared to last season, where they started with a loss to Calabasas.
The Vikings kicked off their tournament with a nail-biting victory against Heritage Christian, clinching the game with a last-second shot from Romel McCoy. He scored five points and grabbed two rebounds, while Ali Eldein led the team with 18 points. Fontenette acknowledged that while the offensive performance wasn’t perfect, the team’s defensive efforts kept them competitive.
“
It wasn’t our best game offensively, but our focus on defense kept us in the game and set the stage for our win against Calabasas,”
Fontenette stated. Despite some key players like Noah Trevino and Issac Michel-Zavala facing challenges offensively, they played crucial roles in the overall success of the team.
The momentum from their initial wins propelled the Vikings to a solid performance against Calabasas, where they scored 70 points. Michel-Zavala emerged as the top scorer with 19 points and six rebounds, while Steve Irons recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Fontenette emphasized the importance of staying grounded, reminding his players, “We still have a long season ahead of us.”
Looking ahead, the Vikings are preparing for a challenging schedule, including upcoming games against Chaminade and Taft, both of which are noted Division 1 playoff teams. Fontenette believes these matchups will be instrumental in readying his young team for the tough competition they’ll face in the Foothill League.
“
If you want to get to that level, you need to play against that level,”
Fontenette explained, highlighting the necessity of exposure to high-caliber teams. With only one senior on the roster, the majority of the players are juniors, but Fontenette is optimistic about their potential.
As of Saturday, November 25, 2023, the Vikings continued their winning streak with a 63-53 victory against the Agoura Chargers. They are set to face the Pilibos Eagles on Monday, November 27, 2023, in another tournament game.
With a strong start to the season, Valencia aims to build on their current momentum, as Fontenette stated, “Teaching them how to navigate through life is just taking it one day at a time. If we are stacking up good days, we’re probably going to have a good season.”
This developing story is sure to excite fans and followers as they keep an eye on the Valencia Vikings throughout the season.
