By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com

It was the sixth loss in a row to start the 2023-24 men's basketball season for Napa Valley College. But coach Steve Ball found some areas to be encouraged about as the nonconference season continues for the Storm.

There is the way that Napa Valley started the game, leading early on, 6-5 and 9-8, and trailing 15-14, against Las Positas College-Livermore on Friday, Nov. 17.

There is the way that Napa Valley is taking to the scouting report, going out and doing what the coaching staff is asking of them.

"I feel like we've had a very challenging first six games. And I think that in each of them, for that five- to eight-minute mark, I feel like teams are concerned and worried about us," said Ball.

"I think we get a little fatigued and we don't come in and make a positive impact when we come in off the bench. They need to make a positive impact in the first minute. We've got to go in right away and make an energy impact on the game."

Chris Farrington and Jaleel Turner each scored 13 points for Napa Valley in the host Storm's 82-49 loss to Las Positas College. Farrington also had three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Turner also had two rebounds.

Napa Valley (0-6 overall) is still looking for its first win of the season.

"Our guys did a really good job of listening to a scouting report," said Ball. "I feel like our players are buying into our scouting reports. And I feel like we're executing that game plan defensively.

"I think, tactically, some things that we did, we were fronting the post really well defensively."

The win was the fourth in a row for Las Positas (5-1 overall), which plays in the Coast-North Conference.

Eleven players scored for Las Positas, which was led by Alex Martin with 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, 7-of-10 from the free-throw line, 11 rebounds and two assists.

Las Positas was ahead at halftime, 41-24.

Also, in double figures for Las Positas was Sterling Mcclanahan with 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists, Elijah Mobley with 12 points and eight rebounds, and Elliot Mobley with 10 points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Las Positas shot 41.1 percent from the field (23-of-56), 38.5 percent from 3-point range (10-of-26), and 68.4 percent from the free-throw line (26-of-38).

"I feel like we did a really good job, especially tonight on defending the first shot," said Ball.

The area where Napa Valley needs to get better at is rebounding.

"We need to rebound the basketball. We're getting beat every game on the glass," said Ball.

"They're great young men. We've got to be a little bit nasty and get in there and mix it up, not be afraid to mix it up on the defensive glass. They're working hard."

Also, those contributing for the Storm:

Hassan Flemming, with six points, two rebounds; Raekwon Bell, with five points, six rebounds, two assists; Jamari Taylor, with five points, three rebounds; Nate Broome, with four points, two rebounds; Oliver Aandahl, with three points, two rebounds; Jalen Moore, with seven rebounds.

"I feel like we have a few guys who can really get the ball to the basket," said Ball. "I think we're doing a good job of getting to the spots that we'd like to. We just need to be a little quicker, make a little quicker

decision, and finish the shots that we're getting. We're missing some shots that are actually some pretty good shots."

Napa Valley hit six 3-pointers and was 13-of-18 from the free-throw line.

Napa Valley continues its nonconference season on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at Skyline College-San Bruno at 5 p.m.

The Storm will play in the Coach Tregs Classic, Dec. 1-2, at College of the Redwoods-Eureka.

"We're not going back down from or shy away against teams. We want to play against good teams because we want to be a good team," said Ball.

"I think a lot of it is leading by example. I'm never going to quit on them. So, I don't think they're going to quit on each other. So, I'm continually teaching and coaching them and always trying to give them an advantage to win. I think they sense that they're going to do that for each other. You're battling for the guy next to you. You don't want to let him down."

* Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, 2019 after spending 40 years as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2016, the Vintage High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019, and the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.