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Varsity Boys Basketball: Gets the Ball Rolling
by Ryan Eshoff

You cannot come much closer to hoops glory than the boys varsity basketball team did last season. A loss in the last game of the season, the California state championship, has left the Warriors wanting more. The team returns senior starters Jerry Cotton, Montel Lee, junior point guard Terrance Worthy, and sophomore starter Andrew Daou. Adding an additional boost will be junior Brandon Holland, who suffered a season-ending leg injury last season, and senior role players Mike Cussary, Chris Rolen, and Victor Mignea.

Their talent was on display for the first action of the season November 16. The varsity took on a team of faculty members including Mike Scialabba, Dan Meester, Ryan Hinn, Gabriel Guven, James Vanderveen, and Greg Marshall. The varsity prevailed by an undisclosed margin.

Coaches Steve Cotton and Dan Meester encourage the team to work harder and take their upcoming season one step further. Opening with the West Catholic Jamboree tournament at Riordan on November 18 and a scrimmage against Piedmont Hills on November 20, the Warriors officially began play November 30 against the North Salinas High School Vikings.

After a mild start which saw the Warriors trailing 14-8, the team settled in and quickly opened up a double-digit lead on the Vikings, sparked by three-pointers from Daou and Worthy, and a highlight-reel dunk from Cotton. Valley started the season on a winning note, taking the game 70-55. Worthy led the team with 19 points, Daou contributed 18, and Cotton added 15 points for the Warriors.
Valley continues their preseason throughout the month of December before league play begins in January.