Vanden High Sweeps Rodriguez in Crunch Time Thriller

Junior guard Templeton Fountaine V leads Vikings with 27 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter

Jan. 28, 2026 at 7:31pm

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In a rematch of a recent 23-point victory, the Vanden High School boys basketball team edged out Rodriguez High 77-69 in a close contest on Tuesday night. Junior guard Templeton Fountaine V scored a season-high 27 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Vikings to the sweep. Vanden's backcourt duo of Fountaine and senior James Carraway combined for at least 38 points for the third straight game.

Why it matters

The victory keeps Vanden (18-5, 6-1) in the hunt for the Monticello Empire League title, sitting just behind first-place Sacramento (15-8, 7-0). The Vikings will look to avenge an earlier loss to Sacramento when the two teams meet again next week.

The details

Fountaine was tasked with slowing down Rodriguez star forward Mason Adimora, who was held in check due to early foul trouble. Vanden's defense forced Adimora into a quiet night, while Fountaine scored 11 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter to hold off a late Rodriguez rally. Carraway added 18 points, including a key stretch in the third quarter to halt a 10-0 Mustangs run.

  • The Vikings defeated Rodriguez 77-69 on Tuesday night.
  • Vanden previously beat Rodriguez by 23 points last Friday.

The players

Templeton Fountaine V

A junior guard for Vanden High School who scored a season-high 27 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Vikings to victory.

James Carraway

A senior guard for Vanden High School who scored 18 points and provided a key scoring stretch in the third quarter to help the Vikings pull away.

Mason Adimora

A star forward for Rodriguez High School who was held in check due to early foul trouble.

Elijah Smith

A senior point guard for Rodriguez High School who played for Vanden last season and led the Mustangs with 21 points, including 8 in the first quarter.

Micheal Holloway

The head coach of the Vanden High School boys basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“I pride myself on defense a lot of times. I know I'm the best defender in the 707 and in California.”

— Templeton Fountaine V, Junior Guard, Vanden High School

“He never runs from big matchups. When we need a bucket, he's always there to get a bucket. That's why he's the best player in the area.”

— Micheal Holloway, Head Coach, Vanden High School

“I'm just having fun. When I have fun, it just makes me play better. I feel like I'm just flowing in the game and getting everybody else involved.”

— James Carraway, Senior Guard, Vanden High School

“They wanna hang with us. They think they're the big dog, so we gotta show them that we're the best in the 707 and send other teams a message that we're like that.”

— James Carraway, Senior Guard, Vanden High School

What’s next

Vanden will look to avenge their earlier loss to league-leading Sacramento when the two teams meet again next Tuesday.

The takeaway

Vanden's dynamic backcourt duo of Templeton Fountaine V and James Carraway proved too much for Rodriguez, as the Vikings completed the season sweep and kept pace in the Monticello Empire League title race.