Redlands East Valley boys basketball team knocks off Beaumont in CBL action
0Sooma khanJanuary 21, 2026
REDLANDS — The start wasn’t what Redlands East Valley coach Mike Aranda wanted, as his Wildcats fell behind early against Beaumont in a battle of undefeated Citrus Belt League boys basketball teams.
Redlands East Valley guard Omari Belcher (11) fights for the ball with Beaumont guard Elijah Gutierrez (3) in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Redlands East Valley guard Josh Glinsey (1) shoots over Beaumont forward Nathan Kinser (22) in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Beaumont guard Elijah Gutierrez (3) flies to the hoop as Redlands East Valley guard Demaj Moore (22) defends in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Beaumont center Cody Bonshire (32) fouls Redlands East Valley guard Amari Smith (2) in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Redlands East Valley guard Amari Smith (2) drives past Beaumont forward Nathan Brickman (4) in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Beaumont forward Nathan Kinser (22) goes up against Redlands East Valley in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Redlands East Valley guard Demaj Moore (22) is defended by Beaumont forward Nathan Kinser (22) on a layup in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Beaumont Head Coach Gerry Alvarez against Redlands East Valley in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Beaumont center Cody Bonshire (32) pulls down a rebound over Redlands East Valley forward Mason Young (21) in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Beaumont forward Nathan Brickman (4) defends Redlands East Valley guard Ryan Hopkins (12) as he shoots in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Redlands East Valley players gather together before Halftime against Beaumont in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Redlands East Valley guard Ethan Munar (0) fights for the rebound with Beaumont center Cody Bonshire (32) in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Redlands East Valley forward Mason Young (21) and Redlands East Valley guard Amari Smith (2) force Beaumont center Cody Bonshire (32) to turn over the ball in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Redlands East Valley Head Coach Mike Aranda Talks with Redlands East Valley guard Ryan Hopkins (12) against Beaumont in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Beaumont forward Nathan Brickman (4) battles for the rebound against Redlands East Valley forward Dariel Bahamontes (3) in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Beaumont guard Tru Houston (10) sinks a three pointer against Redlands East Valley in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Redlands East Valley cheerleaders perform at halftime of the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Redlands East Valley forward Quinton Hopkins (23) drives to the hoop as Beaumont forward Nathan Brickman (4) defends in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Beaumont guard Davien Mitchell (1) sinks a three pointer against Redlands East Valley in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Redlands East Valley guard Ryan Hopkins (12) and Redlands East Valley forward Dariel Bahamontes (3) pressures Beaumont forward Nathan Kinser (22) in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Beaumont forward Nathan Kinser (22) defends Redlands East Valley guard Demaj Moore (22) as he goes up for a layup in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Beaumont forward Joseph Flores (24) looks up at the American flag during the national anthem before playing Redlands East Valley in a Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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Redlands East Valley guard Omari Belcher (11) fights for the ball with Beaumont guard Elijah Gutierrez (3) in the Citrus Belt League boys basketball game in Redlands on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Redlands East Valley recovered, however and used a 19-0 run in the opening quarter to help build a 25-point lead. The Wildcats thwarted a handful of Beaumont’s attempts to cut the deficit to single digits and ultimately prevailed 80-65 on Tuesday night.
Demaj Moore scored 17 of his game-high 22 points during the second half to lead the way for Redlands East Valley (20-3 overall, 5-0 in league). Dariel Bahamontes scored 10 points in the opening period and finished with 18 despite sitting much of the second quarter after picking up a pair of fouls.
“We have four starters back from a team that was in the league championship race a season ago but had to learn how to win tough games against good teams and we’ve done that thus far,” Aranda said. “I’ll take the win, but I’m not thrilled with that fourth quarter. We gave them some hope by not closing it out the way we should’ve.”
Beaumont (13-10, 4-1) grabbed a 9-4 lead in the first 2 1/2 minutes of the game. Elijah Gutierrez scored five of those points on a 3-pointer and a layup.
Redlands East Valley pieced together the key 19-0 run in a span of just over 5 minutes. Amari Smith got things started for the Wildcats when he finished through contact for a fast-break layup. Bahamontes capped things with a steal and layup as REV took a 23-9 lead by the end of the period.
“We built that lead with defense,” Bahamontes said. “And then we let off the gas and gave them an opportunity. That’s exactly what coach Aranda told us not to do but we’ll take that lesson to heart as we move into this next round with the target on our backs after a successful first round.”
Beaumont’s Darien Mitchell connected on a 3-pointer to cut the Cougar deficit to 13 with under a minute left to the half. Ethan Munar and London Towns had baskets to push Redlands East Valley’s lead to 39-22 at intermission.
Beaumont was looking for an early third quarter run to quickly cut into the lead. Instead the Cougars were forced to burn an early timeout as REV went on an 8-0 run to push their lead to a game-high 25 at 47-22 after Smith and Mason Young connected on 3-pointers.
Nathan Kinser went on a personal 9-0 run covering just under two minutes to cut Beaumont’s deficit to 13 with 3:40 left in the third period. However, a 12-5 REV run gave the Wildcats a 20-point lead after three quarters. Tru Houston and Jonah Gill combined to hit a trio of fourth quarter 3-pointers for Beaumont to cut the final deficit to 15 points.
“You just can’t turn it over as much as we did tonight against a good team like REV and expect to be competitive,” Cougars coach Gerry Alvarez said. “It also took us too long to figure out how to get Nathan good, quality paint touches. I was pleased with our fight though, particularly from the bench in those last few minutes and that’s something to take going forward.”
Kinser led Beaumont with 14 points.
REV visits Citrus Valley on Thursday, while Beaumont visits Redlands.
