The Warriors came ready to play on defense on Monday night, as they welcomed Weed to Hoopa for a boys basketball game and won 55-42.

With the victory, the Warriors improved to 4-3 on the season.

Several players impressed in the win, but it was the team defense that really set the tone, as the home team held the visitors to just six first-quarter points.

“We played some really good defense,” Hoopa head coach Inker McCoy said. 

Malakai McCoy paced the Hoopa offense once again and finished with a team-high 23 points, while Joshua Moon added 12 points and Brian Richards chipped in 10 points.

“We played smart and we worked together really good,” McCovey added.

The Warriors also got a boost from the performance of one of their younger players.

Freshman William Simms was called up from the JVs for the game and the 6-foot-2 youngster had an immediate impact.

“We brought him up for the game and he fit right in,” McCovey said. “He played really good for us.”

The Hoopa coach also praised the defensive play of Carlos Anzora, another player who has been impressing early in the new season, as well as Richards.

“My guys off the bench played really good too,” the Hoopa coach added.

Next up, the Warriors will host McKinleyville on Tuesday night.