MARYSVILLE, CA (YSBC) - The Marysville Indians boys basketball team secured a second-place finish in the Pioneer Valley League after they defeated the Colfax Falcons 62-48 on Feb. 13.

On top of the winner getting second in the PVL, the outcome of the game had high implications towards the postseason as Marysville and Colfax were next to each other in the final rankings released by MaxPreps on February 12.

The Indians came out sloppy with the ball in the opening quarter and fell into an 8-2 early deficit to the Falcons.

Despite the multiple turnovers, the Marysville defense was tough and Colfax didn’t get any easy baskets. The Indians led 14-13 at the end of the first.

 

Marysville head coach Stan Easter expressed to Yuba Sutter Butte Colusa Sports postgame that they were lucky to have the lead and he let his team know it in the transition to the second quarter.

“If we open up like that in the playoffs, that could make us a one-and-done team,” Easter said.

Falcons sophomore Caleb Lynch was a huge presence in the quarter for Colfax in the second as he scored all of his eight points in the game during the second, including a buzzer-beating three to end the first half and gave the Falcons a 26-23 lead at the half.

Colfax extended their lead to eight within the first couple minutes of the third quarter and Indians junior forward Zackary Granger picked three fouls on three straight possessions which gave him four fouls in the game and a lengthy time on the bench.

Granger re-entered in the fourth and scored seven in the final quarter.

Marysville slowly chipped away at the Falcons lead as they cut it to five with four and a half minutes to go in the third.

Marysville head coach Stan Easter paces during the Indians’ victory over Colfax on Feb. 13. Photo by Steven Bryla.

Indians junior Isaiah made the whole gym shake with two minutes and 14 seconds remaining in the third.

Henry hit a corner three in front of the Marysville bench to cut their deficit to one, but he was fouled and tied the game at 38 at the free-throw line.

On the ensuing possession, Indians junior Steven Martin stole the ball from the consistent pressure of the Marysville full-court press and took a 40-38 with two minutes to go in the third.

Martin finished with 17 points in the win. Henry ended the third with another three and the Indians took a 45-40 lead heading into the fourth.

Easter told his players on the floor in the third that he wanted them to drive to the basket instead of shooting from the perimeter.

Colfax sophomore Caleb Lynch (11) makes a buzzer-beating three at the end of the first half during the Falcons’ loss to Marysville on Feb. 13. Photo by Steven Bryla

The Indians responded to Easter’s message and found open lanes near the basket and forced the Falcons into multiple fouls that sent them to the charity stripe. 

Marysville attempted three free throws in the first half, but drastically improved that statistic to 24 attempts in the second half.

Indians sophomore guard Davi Perez went to the line six times and junior Karter Ellyson took four attempts from the line.

Perez was one of the three Marysville players in double figures as he contributed 12 points in the win.

Perez expressed to YSBC that there were definitely moments where the Indians didn’t perform their best, but they have full trust in one another and they stayed together.

“It’s our mindset,” Perez said. “When we’re playing together, it makes our games so much easier.”

Easter added that Ellyson contributed in a big role off the bench as he was a force in rebounding and played with a lot of confidence on the floor.

Marysville junior Karter Ellyson (21) lays the ball in on Feb. 13 during the Indians’ win against Colfax. Photo by Steven Bryla

Ellyson said the team chemistry is strong because of all of the work they did as a squad in the offseason that helped build the confidence in the team and aided to trusting each other on the floor.

“We did a ton of team bonding and we’re all willing to put our lives on the line for each game,” Ellyson said.

The Indians opened the fourth with a 6-0 run and took a double-digit lead.

Marysville controlled the remainder of the game and held on for the win.

The CIF Sac-Joaquin Section brackets were released on Saturday, Feb. 14 and the Indians were given the No. 3 seed in the Division IV bracket.

Marysville hosted Dixon in their first-round matchup of the playoffs on Wednesday. The result of this game was played after the print deadline.