FOUNTAIN VALLEY — With a star player returning after being sidelined for two weeks due to injuries and two more players rejoining the team after playing on the football team that just won a state championship, the Edison basketball team seemed to have all the advantages against Fountain Valley in a Sunset League opener for both teams Wednesday.
Four players scored in double figures for the Chargers, who led from early in the first quarter in a 61-54 victory over the Barons at Fountain Valley High School.
Connor Mcnally #24 of Edison fouls Troy Leach #33 of Fountain Valley. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Miles Dayley #11 of Fountain Valley tries to block a shot by Connor Mcnally #24 of Edison. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Troy Leach #33 of Fountain Valley gets past Connor Mcnally #24 of Edison. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Aaron DeSantiago #24 of Fountain Valley tries to pass the ball around Jayden Oei #3 of Edison. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Devyn Blake #22 of Edison is guarded by Drew Chinchilla #3 of Fountain Valley and Miles Dayley #11 of Fountain Valley. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Jackson Oei #11 of Edison guards Troy Leach #33 of Fountain Valey. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Derick Johnson #1 of Edison and Troy Leach #33 of Fountain Valley. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Devin Payne #22 of Fountain Valley is guarded by Jayden Oei #3 of Edison and Connor Mcnally #24 of Edison. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Head coach Brendan Holmes of Fountain Valley watches the game. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Jayden Oei #3 of Edison guards Aaron DeSantiago #24 of Fountain Valley. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Jayden Oei #3 of Edison guards Devin Payne #22 of Fountain Valley. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Head coach Josh Beaty of Edison on the sideline. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Devin Payne #22 of Fountain Valley blocks a shot by Derick Johnson #1 of Edison. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Jayden Oei #3 of Edison reacts to loosing the ball while Kenneth Nguyen #23 of Fountain Valley looks on. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Head coach Josh Beaty of Edison on the sideline. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Devin Payne #22 of Fountain Valey passes the ball while guarded by Jayden Oei #3 of Edison. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Head coach Brendan Holmes of Fountain Valley watches from the sideline. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Head coach Josh Beaty of Edison while playing against Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Head coach Brendan Holmes of Fountain Valley complains about a call. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
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Connor Mcnally #24 of Edison fouls Troy Leach #33 of Fountain Valley. Edison played Fountain Valley in a Sunset League boys basketball game on Dec. 18, 2024 in Fountain Valley, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
The Chargers, (7-6, 1-0), who are ranked No. 22 in the county, also dominated on the boards with 30 rebounds, including 14 at the offensive end, compared to 16 for the No. 19 Barons (10-3, 0-1).
Derick Johnson, a 6-foot-3 junior, was returning to the starting lineup after missing six games with injuries to both ankles and scored a game-high 24 points and pulled down nine rebounds, five on the offensive end.
“He was guarded by smaller players, so he was just killing them inside,” Edison coach Josh Beaty said. “They couldn’t keep him off the glass. So, to see him play the way that he did with as much heart as he had … Because he’s not up to his condition yet.”
Edison’s Derick Johnson was one of four players to score in double figures for the Chargers in a 61-54 victory over Fountain Valley in the Sunset League opener for both teams Wednesday, Dec. 18. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)
Beaty, who is in his first year coaching the Chargers, was returning to Fountain Valley for the first time after coaching the Barons last season.
“It’s weird but it’s not about me,” said Beaty, who guided the Barons to the quarterfinal round of the CIF-SS Division 2-AA playoffs last year. “I’m just trying to make it about the kids.”
Along with Johnson, scoring in double figures for the Chargers were Jayden Oei (19), Connor McNally (15) and Devyn Blake (10).
Blake and Teo Hampton were both on the Chargers’ football team that defeated Central of Fresno, 21-14, on Saturday to capture the CIF State Division 1-A title.
Devin Payne and Aaron DeSantiago scored 21 and 18, respectively, to lead Fountain Valley and were the main reason the Barons were within striking range for much of the contest.
The Barons trailed by four with four minutes, 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter but the Chargers then scored four times off of offensive rebounds to make the score 59-52 with 26.9 seconds left.
“It is tough to win games when you give that many second opportunities,” Barons coach Brendon Holmes said. “We had moments where we were battling and playing hard but we could have been a little bit more aggressive when it came to the ball going up in the air and us needing to go get it. It was a tough one, but I think it was a great opportunity for those guys to learn.”
