Locking down: Skyridge’s defense takes center stage in a 69-44 win over Fremont
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- Skyridge forward Ryder Gentry drives the lane during his team’s 69-44 win over Fremont on Friday. January 9, 2026
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- Skyridge’s starting lineup waits to check back in during the Falcon’s 69-44 win over Fremont on Friday. January 9, 2026
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- Skyridge guard Hunter Sheffield looks to drive en route to scoring two of his 11 points in a 69-44 win over Fremont. January 9, 2026
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- Skyridge’s Zach Gagon on a fast break during his team’s 69-44 win over Fremont on Friday. January 9, 2026
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- Skyridge’s Ryder Gentry contends for a rebound during his team’s 69-44 win over Fremont on Friday. January 9, 2026
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- Skyridge guard Davis Fyans directs the offense during his team’s 69-44 win over Fremont on Friday. January 9, 2026
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- Skyridge guard Koa Wallwork gets his team into an offensive set during the Falcon’s 69-44 win over Fremont on Friday. January 9, 2026
Skyridge boys basketball coach Jeff Gardner immediately alluded to it after his team’s 69-44 win over visiting Fremont on Friday, and for good reason considering the game’s final score. Defense is going to define this year’s Falcon team and it’s a definition all involved are very comfortable and confident with.
As the Falcons finished off their final tilt before entering region play, it’s become abundantly clear they’re one of the top defensive teams in the state, which should aide them considerably when wading through the historically toughest region in the state.
“I liked the way we played tonight and defensively the kids are really locked in,” Gardner said. “We were hard to score on coming out of gates and I think that was really positive for us, much like it’s been all season long so far. I was thrilled with how we guarded tonight.”
And it’s far from the Silverwolves that had trouble putting the ball through the net versus Gardner’s team this season.
Through 13 games played the Falcons have given up over 50 points just five times, and not ironically enough were dealt all three of their losses when teams broke through that scoring barrier.
“We’ve built a really good defensive team, and when you play good defense you have a chance,” Gardner said. “We understand the challenge ahead with the tough teams in our region, but the kids are confident and excited to compete and play.”
Skyridge was very good defensively a season ago, and have worked to only improve in its overall performance in that aspect this season. Considering all five starters saw ample playing experience a season ago, it stands to reason why the Falcons have proved so tough to score on through the halfway point this season.
Of course scoring is a necessary component, too, and in Friday’s win it was Ryder Gentry leading the way in that category, scoring a game-high 21 points, with Carson Mosteller adding 13 and Hunter Sheffield 11.
“I think our ability to work together and to play for each other is something we’re doing at a high level,” Gardner said. “Watching the kids play unselfish and make the extra pass is fun to watch, so that’s been a real positive.”
I makes a lot of sense why Skyridge is so strong in the facets explained by Gardner considering the team’s overall makeup. Starting clear back in grade school, most of the Falcon players have grown up together and played basketball with one another, leading to an uncommon cohesion that has proved relatively successful so far this season.
“I know some of them go clear back to the second grade with one another, and that’s a rare thing in this day and age,” Gardner said. “All eight of our seniors live in Skyridge boundaries and grew up here, so we’ve been able to build from the ground up and that has its advantages, for sure. It shows with how they play together and compete out there. It’s a really fun group to coach.”
As mentioned, the work begins in earnest now for any team that resides within the brutal confines of Region 3, although Gardner likes his chances as one of the more unheralded teams in region despite their stellar 10-3 mark on the season thus far.
“We’re confident in this group and we’re confident in our ability to compete with the best teams in our region,” Gardner concluded. “Coming into the year we knew we had the ability to be really good defensively, as we’ve definitely shown that. Sure, we’re not the team most people talk about, but we don’t feel disrespected, or anything like that, we just go out there and compete and do what we know we can do and we’re happy where we’re at, so far.”
