SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Based on the success of the St. Francis Junior Varsity team this season, the future is bright for the Troubadour basketball program.

“I think we are the foundation and the base,” said Head Coach Gary Ender.

The Troubadours finished off a 21-6 season Tuesday night with a convincing 59-34 win over Folsom. The team out-scored its opponents by almost 500 points on the season, recording an 18.0 point per game average margin of victory.

Ender’s crew included eight sophomores and five freshmen with seven averaging seven or more points. Freshman Julia Razo led the team in scoring at 9.3 points per game. She scored in double figures 14 times on the season, including a season-high 19 points in the finale at Folsom.

“Julia was in the post for the first two thirds of the season,” said Ender. “She has extra-ordinary ball-handling skills and very good composure for a freshman. The move to point allowed her to get in the free court and showcase the skills that she has. She has a very bright future.”

Classmate Janae Fairbook was second on the team in scoring at 7.8 points per game, bringing the ball up and running the offense.

“Janae was really the floor leader from the beginning of the season,” said Ender. “She would take on any pressure. While we had players who had not developed the skills or the confidence to work under pressure, Janae is very good with it. She keeps her eyes up and has a very good baseball pass. She can shoot the three as well as anyone.”

Sophomores Yvonna Molodanof (7.7 ppg) and Emily Ainsley (6.9) were also key contributors for the Troubies. Sophomore Aliyah Williams averaged 7.5 points per game in the post, while freshman Bella Willard scored 5.3 points per game in her nine games.

Freshman Avery Myers missed the second half of the season after an ankle injury but was a spark off the bench in her 13 games. Sophomore Maddy Haynes was among the leading scorers at 5.8 ppg before a knee injury ended her season.

“It was a real dynamic blend with having five freshmen and eight sophomores,” said Head Coach Gary Ender. “We showed a lot of perseverance. We had some tough injuries with some knee and ankle injuries. The players always stepped up. We like adversity and the players showed their character in the adversity and taking their game to another level.”

The Troubadours posted a 9-1 record in Delta River League action, tying Oak Ridge for the mythical championship after the two schools finished tied. St. Francis lost 56-51 at home against Oak Ridge but won the rematch on the road 46-31.

St. Francis opened the season with a 40-point win at Placer but was just 3-2 after fives games. After losing in the championship of the Kennedy Tournament, the Troubadours won the El Dorado Tournament with a win over the host school in the championship as part of a six-game win streak.

The Troubies then lost 50-43 in the Holy Hoops matchup with Christian Brothers but would close the season winning 10 of the last 12 overall.

“We were aggressive on the boards and we often had a size advantage,” said Ender. “It was matter of convincing the girls to go get the basketball. They are very skilled for this stage.”

With the season over, several players are expected to be added to the varsity roster for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs that start Feb. 25.

“The style that we play is similar to the varsity but not exactly the same,” said Ender. “I am more man-to-man. We do press like the varsity and we want to run and push the ball. It is also it is helping the kids understand the physicality and have to go out and use your bodies as the aggressor.”