By Halle Parker

Special to The Farmville Herald

After a roller coaster of a first official game for both the Fuqua players and new head coach, the 10-man  Falcons varsity boys basketball roster ended on top with a 57-51 win over longtime rival Brunswick Academy Vikings.

“We’ve got some things we have to work, but we’ll take a win. A win’s a win,” said first-year Fuqua head coach Charles Thomas.

A 20-point game from returning junior center Julian Gee and another 14 points from newcomer sophomore guard Tyler Thomas allowed the Falcons to start their season with a winning record.

The score was tied 51-51 with just a over a minute left until Gee made two free throws, giving the Falcons the lift needed to finish the game as the final seconds wound down.

While Gee made plays in the paint, Tyler Thomas led the team from the point.

His early drives in the first few minutes produced six of Fuqua’s first eight points.

The game saw explosions from both the Falcons and Vikings. A 12-0 run at the end of the second quarter by the Falcons gave them a 33-22 lead at halftime.

Brunswick sliced the deficit and with a 10-0 run of its own to start the third quarter.

“Their back was against the wall a bit, so we knew they were going to make that run and we needed to handle that,” said Charles Thomas. “I’m proud of the guys, the way they responded to improve on that run.”

The new Fuqua head coach is also the school’s athletic director and carries 26 years of experience, including three years collegiately at Hampden-Sydney College and College of William & Mary.

Fuqua will travel for its  next game to face the Life Christian Academy Eagles at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Chester.