Fountain Valley Holds Off Corona del Mar in Back-and-Forth Battle (2025)

Fountain Valley – Barons Gym

In a hard-fought varsity matchup on Friday night, the Fountain Valley Barons edged out the Corona del Mar Sea Kings 71-68 in a game that remained close from start to finish. Both teams exchanged leads throughout, but Fountain Valley’s ability to close strong proved to be the difference.

The first quarter set the tone for a back-and-forth contest, with Fountain Valley holding a slight 20-18 advantage. Corona del Mar responded in the second quarter with a 20-point effort, briefly seizing momentum behind the steady play of Oliver Nakra, who would go on to lead all Sea Kings scorers with 24 points. However, the Barons remained composed, matching CdM’s intensity and heading into halftime trailing by just a single point at 38-39.

The second half continued the game’s tight nature, with neither team able to pull away. Corona del Mar managed to outscore Fountain Valley 15-14 in the third, maintaining a narrow lead heading into the final period. However, the fourth quarter belonged to the Barons. Their balanced offensive attack, led by a stellar 37-point performance from Aaron DeSantiago, allowed them to regain control. DeSantiago was particularly dangerous from beyond the arc, knocking down six three-pointers while also remaining efficient at the free-throw line.

Despite CdM’s efforts to keep pace, turnovers and defensive lapses down the stretch gave Fountain Valley the edge they needed to seal the game. Devin Payne chipped in with 10 points for the Barons, while Kaden Yee’s contributions on the boards and defensive end played a critical role in shutting down the Sea Kings’ late-game push.

For Corona del Mar, Oliver Nakra’s 24-point effort kept them competitive, while Jackson Harlan and Luke Mirhashemi each added 13 points. Maxwell Scott contributed 11 points and facilitated the offense well, but the Sea Kings struggled to generate enough stops in the closing minutes to turn the tide.

Fountain Valley’s ability to execute in crunch time ultimately made the difference in this nail-biting contest. Their resilience and late-game composure allowed them to secure a well-earned 71-68 victory over a tough Corona del Mar squad.