Don't look now, but two-time defending D-I sectin champion Folsom is starting to come on, despite playing with a largely new lineup from last year's bunch that went 31-2.
The No. 20 Bulldogs (10-10) are 3-0 and tied with Jesuit for the Delta River League lead. In the last two games, the Bulldogs lost in the final seconds, 71-70, to No. 4 Sacramento in the Common Good Classic Jan. 18 at Del Oro, then beat No. 9 Sheldon 74-65 on Friday.
Folsom's Mike Wall, The Bee's Coach of the Year last season, is doing another marvelous job molding a competitive team that now appears to have a good shot at being a factor in the D-II playoff field as declining enrollment has them down a divisison.
Folsom graduated five of its top six players from last season, including Bee All-Metro first teamer Tony Johnson, now playing at Lafayette College. Jordan Richards, a key contributor last season as a sophomore guard, also opted not to play to focus on football.
But two-time all-league guard Kori Babineaux is back and relishing his role as Folsom's new leader. He had 26 points against Sheldon and is averaging 18.8 points for the season.
Most of the other Bulldogs, including football studs Tyler and Tanner Trosin, Rich Olpin, Marcus Hendricks and Gurminder Dosanjh are in the first season of varsity play.
Folsom plays Wednesday night at Monterey Trail, then faces No. 3 Jesuit on Friday.
