Falcons open Big 8 slate with narrow victory

After trailing for most of the game, the Falcons opened their 2019-20 Big 8 Conference schedule with a close 50-46 win over visiting Santa Rosa on Wednesday night at Falcon Gym.  The Bear Cubs went inside early and often, utilizing the height advantage of 6'1" freshman Kierra Johnson as  Johnson finished with 22 points, nearly half of the Bear Cubs' total.  Santa Rosa's defense shut down the Falcons' inside game for three quarters, but it was the Falcon defense that came up big in the final ten minutes.  Trailing by four points entering the fourth quarter (40-36), the Falcons held the Bear Cubs to just six points - all by Johnson - over the final ten minutes while scoring 14 of their own.  The Falcons used a balanced scoring attack, led by Shay Boley with 11 points, Mo Peters and Taylor Sexton with 10 each, and Alexis Zimmerman with 8.  

The Falcons will play local rival American River on Tuesday afternoon (Dec 24) at ARC before a short holiday break, then resume Big 8 play on January 7 at Diablo Valley.