New-Look Eagles Rise in State Men’s Basketball Rankings

The Eagle men's basketball team is ranked in the state's top 30 after winning 6 of its first 10 games while playing a challenging early-season schedule, all on the road.

With an all-new group of starting players after last year's Golden Valley Conference championship season, the Eagles won their first three games, lost three in a row, then won three of four. They finished November with a 105-103 triple overtime victory against Los Medanos at the Mendocino Tournament in Ukiah.

These Eagles have shown an ability to come from behind. They trailed 40-33 at half time in an 85-80 win over Folsom Lake, trailed at half time 40-33 in a 76-72 win over American River, trailed 33-30 in an 83-79 win over Sacramento City, and trailed at half time 35-34 in the win over Los Medanos, which ended with five freshmen on the floor in the third OT.

That's a good sign, according to head coach Kyle Heath. He said, "With a young team, you usually have to lose those games before you start winning them."

Freshman forward Jacob Dallas and sophomore guard Josh Allen made All-Tourney after the Eagles' opened the season with a pair of wins in the Geno Foundation Tip Off at Napa Valley.

Freshman guard Jeremiah Collins was All-Tourney at the Mendocino tourney, where he scored 38 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the 3 OT win.

Dallas has had multiple double-double games and leads the team with 17.4 points per game, a 62.7 field goal percentage, and 8.7 rebounds per game. Collins is averaging 16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and leads the team with 2 steals per game. Allen is averaging 9 points, 4 rebounds, and a team-high 3.7 assists. Freshman forward Davis Warren is averaging 6 points and 5.3 rebounds.

The Eagles don't shoot a lot from long distance (32 for 147 on 3-point shots), but they're making 50 percent of their 2-point shots, and they lead the state in free throws made (215) and free throw attempts (298), a 72 percent free throw shooting percentage.

Heath said it's a team that likes to "take it to the basket" and "pound it inside" when the matchups dictate. And he's comfortable playing 10 to 12 different players on any given night.

Unlike the last two years when the starting lineup rarely changed, Heath said he's already made some adjustments this season.

In their fourth game of the season, the Eagles lost their lead late in the first half against the No. 3 team in the state, Las Positas, then stayed within striking distance for much of the second half before falling 77-57. They also got good experience in losses to other teams ranked above them like Columbia and Mendocino.

Going forward, Heath said they're working on cutting down turnovers and increasing assists.

Jacob Dallas, a 6-4 forward from Denver, "is quick to the ball, can play like a guard, and gets us extra possessions," according to the coach, while Collins, a 6-3 wing from Pittsburg, CA, "is a super-quick and athletic lefty" and the team's main ball-handler.

Allen, the 6-1 sophomore from Australia who missed last year with an injury, has been working to regain his shooting touch, but has been one of the team's leading defenders. Heath said he plays hard and leads by example.

Warren, a 6-5 forward from Yuba City, came to Siskiyous after redshirting at Butte last year. He moved into the starting lineup and contributed 9 points and 16 rebounds against Los Medanos, 6 of those rebounds on the offensive end.

Another freshman who has moved into the starting lineup is 6-2 guard Gavin McLean from Grants Pass. He had 13 points and 6 rebounds against Los Medanos and 11 points in the win over American River in early November.

Sophomore guard Matthew McEwen of Yreka scored 16 points in the win over Sacramento.

Freshmen Alex Choi and Jeremy Gaut have been in the starting lineup, and Choi and freshman Jalen McKinnies both scored 10 points against Los Medanos.

The Eagles are starting December with some tough opponents at the 45th Annual James Clarke Classic in Sacramento. They'll play two teams ranked above them in the state, including Las Positas again.

The other teams the Eagles will face when the Golden Valley Conference season begins in January have also been having success. Heath said the GVC currently has the second best power ranking in the state with Redwoods at 7-1, Feather River 8-3, Shasta 5-4, Butte 5-5, and Lassen 6-6.