Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Action from Thursday’s game between Fortuna and Montgomery.

By Ray Hamill — The Fortuna Huskies dropped their opening game at the 55th annual Jerry Paul Arcata Invitational basketball Tournament on Thursday afternoon, falling to Montgomery 49-32.

Russell Pascascio scored a team-high 10 points in the loss, while teammate Alfonso Medina finished with eight points.

The loss dropped the Huskies to 2-3 on the young season, although all three of their losses have come against quality teams, including a Montgomery team that improved to 5-1.

“You know when you look at who we’ve played, I think we’re doing just fine,” said Fortuna head coach Norm Sotomayor, who intentionally put together a tough December schedule to better prepare his players for league and hopefully the North Coast Section playoffs. “Our three losses have come against three good teams (Ukiah, Placer and Montgomery).

“I have no problem with our losses. We’re competing.”

Ukiah, Placer and Montgomery are a combined 19-2.

The Huskies also have been playing without Jake Houseworth, who has missed the early part of the basketball season after suffering an injury late in the football season.

On Friday, they were also without impressive sophomore guard Kobe Spaulding (sick), who has been one of the team’s top performers as he makes an immediate impact at the varsity level.

Pascascio and Medina have been leading the way through the early going, as expected, and both players look to play a big role as seniors this year.

Another senior, Kallen Barrote, also has had a big impact early in the season and has carried his impressive form over from the football field.

“He has stepped up and is really playing well for us,” Sotomayor said.

Likewise with junior Jace Barsanti, who has started the season well as he adjusts to the speed of the varsity game.

“I like what my guys are doing. They play hard,” the coach added. “We talk about sharpening the pencil, and every day we’re sharpening the pencil more.”

The tough December schedule should benefit the Huskies when the business end of the season rolls around in the new year.

“The goal is to be ready when league gets here and for the postseason,” Sotomayor said. “We’ll take our losses right now and learn from it.”

The Huskies will continue tournament play on Friday when they face off against Eureka at 3:30 p.m.