Marysville junior Zachary Granger (23) drives to the basket on Friday, Jan. 16 in the Indians’ 59-54 win over Oakmont on Jan. 16. Photo by Steven Bryla

MARYSVILLE, CA (YSBC) - The Marysville Indians boys basketball team handed the Oakmont Vikings their first loss of their 2025-26 season in a 59-54 victory on Friday, Jan. 16.

On top of Oakmont tasting defeat for the first time this season, Marysville stayed undefeated in Pioneer Valley League in search of a fourth league title in the last five seasons.

Both teams brought the intensity and the playoff atmosphere lit up the gym.

Indians junior Steven Martin expressed to Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports that it was great to have the support of the backing at home for an important game in the first half of league play.

Martin had 15 points in the victory.

Marysville junior Steven Martin (10) dunks during the Indians’ win over Oakmont on Jan. 16. Photo by Steven Bryla

The entire game was close knit as the biggest least was seven early in the second quarter and the Vikings led 31-29 at the half.

Marysville sophomore guard Davi Perez jolted the Indians offense as he is one of the primary ball handlers bringing the ball up the floor.

Perez told YSBC when the Indians trailed by seven early in the second, they didn’t get on one another, they kept pushing. 

“We were successful because we stayed together throughout the whole game,” Perez said. Perez finished with 13 points in the win.

Marysville senior Jordan Witt added that the Indians are a tight-knit group and they trust one another on the floor.

Marysville senior Jordan Witt (1) extends the Indians’ lead late in the fourth on Jan. 16 against Oakmont. Photo by Steven Bryla

“We’re going to live and die with each other, whether we’re hitting shots or not, the trust is there,” Witt said.

The Indians struggled from shooting beyond the arc throughout the game as they only had one going into the fourth.

Marysville head coach Stan Easter verbally told Witt to continue shooting in the fourth as a lot of his three’s popped in and out of the basket.

Witt hit three-long balls in the fourth, including one that extended the Indians lead to 56-52 with a minute and a half remaining in the game. 

Marysville senior Jordan Witt (1) shoots a three in the fourth quarter during the Indians’ victory against Oakmont on Jan. 16. Photo by Steven Bryla

Witt told YSBC that it instills a lot of confidence into him for him to keep shooting. “It makes me want to keep shooting and forget about the misses,” Witt said.

Easter expressed how proud of his team that he was postgame as they may not have played the best shooting wise and let defensive rebounds get away, but they kept grinding and pulled off a big home win.

The win over Oakmont is one of the many hurdles that the Indians faced so far, but Martin said the key was to keep their composure and execute the game plan.

Marysville played Bear River on Wednesday and has another big matchup tonight as they hit the road and play at Colfax tonight with tipoff at 7:30 p.m.

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Marysville sophomore Davi Perez (4) dribbles the ball on Jan. 16 during the Indians’ win against Oakmont. Photo by Steven Bryla