ROUNDUP: Norsemen win another tourney
- Updated: December 31, 2016
The 2016 Aztec Invitational champion Valhalla Norsemen.
2016-17 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (12-31-16) — The Valhalla Norsemen, guided by the leadership of KAI KOMAKI who poured in 25 points, collected their second tournament championship as they captured the 34th annual Montgomery Invitational 52-44 over Ramona Friday night (Dec. 30).
KOMAKI
Komaki was named MVP and both he and MALIQUE SHAW were selected to the All-Tournament team.
Komaki poured in 25 points, including 6 threes, and Shaw pitched in 11 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, 3 blocks and a steal.
RAMZI SULTAN crashed the boards for 12 rebounds, while JONAH HOWARD scored 8 points and plucked 6 rebounds off the glass.
“It feels good to win our second championship in a row,” said Norsemen assistant coach SCOTT STURGEON, referring to Valhalla’s championship of the San Ysidro Cougar Classic. “We come ready to play every night – we always find a way to pull it out. Everyone has bought in to the way we play defense and it gives us a chance to win.
“(Ramona) sat in a 1-3-1 zone defense most of the game and Kai did a really good job on beating the zone. He really performed well in a championship game. He was his best when we needed him.”
Valhalla: Kai Komaki 25 (2 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), Malique Shaw 11 (18 reb, 3 blk, 1 stl), Jonah Howard 8 (6 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), Ty Schimke 5 (6 reb, 5 ast, 1 blk), Evan O’Neil 5 (3 reb), Ramzi Sultan 1 (12 reb, 2 blk, 2 stl).
MONTE VISTA 55, HUNTINGTON PARK 49 (OT) – The Monte Vista Monarchs scored 13 points in overtime to defeat Huntington Park in the Chula Vista Spartan Tournament Friday (Dec. 30).
DEONDRE McHAYLE went off for 34 points, 8 rebounds 2 assists and 3 steals for Monte Vista.
“Deondre had 11 of our 13 points in overtime,” said Monarchs coach MIKE TULLY. “He got hot at the right time. He just continues to improve. He’s played on varsity since he was a freshman, and he’s a junior now.”
Monte Vista’s board brigade consisted of 8 caroms each from DAVID GARCIA and DERRICK WILEY, and GABRIAL GALVEZ cleared 7 missed shots.
Monte Vista: Deondre McHayle 34 (8 reb, 2 ast, 3 stl), David Garcia 6 (8 reb, 2 ast), Hewa Ali 6, Derrick Wiley 5 (8 reb, 2 blk), Amir Conley 2 (3 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl), Gabrial Galvez 2 (7 reb).
GROSSMONT 69, OTAY RANCH 67 – After a sluggish start to the season, the Grossmont Foothillers edged closer to balancing their season ledger at 7-8 as they nipped Otay Ranch 69-67 Friday (Dec. 30) in the Chula Vista Spartan Tournament.
The Foothillers could have won going away had they not failed at the free throw line.
“We missed 9 free throws in the fourth quarter,” noted Foothillers coach FRANK FOGGIANO. “We were 5 for 14 on free throws, that’s how they got back in the game.”
A 23-5 third quarter blitz by Grossmont put Otay Ranch with its back against the wall.
AUSTIN ODOM nailed 17 points, including a trio of treys, while DAMAGEAE GANT finished with 15 points and 6 rebounds.
MORGAN STIDUM added 10 points to close the door on Otay Ranch.
Despite its sloppy play, Grossmont came within one game of the .500 mark.
Grossmont: Austin Odom 17 (5 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), Damageae Gant 15 (6 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl), Morgan Stidum 10 (2 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl), Hunter Gaines 8 (3 reb), Franklin Golojuch 6 (6 reb), Jamie Odom 5 (5 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl), Desain Crawford 5 (1 ast), Mykol Rodriguez 3 (1 reb).
HELIX 77, CHATSWORTH 53 – Helix made it look easy against Chatsworth as they clipped the Chancellors in Friday’s (Dec. 30) Mt. Carmel Tournament.
“We thought about how we’ve been getting punched early,” said Highlanders’ coach JOHN SINGER. “After the first quarter, we did the punching.”
The Highlanders used a balanced attack to left and right the Chancellors as they overcame a 16-11 first quarter lead to turn the game into a rout.
DYLAN LEE led Helix with 18 points, while JUMAR WYNN and JAYLEN ARNOLD each had 13. AMARI GREEN pitched in 12 points for the Highlanders.
Helix: Dylan Lee 18, Jumar Wynn 13, Jaylen Arnold 13, Amari Green 12, Jaylen Hinson 7, Isaiah Wooden 5, Carson Baker 5, Ilias Beltz 2, Maurice Holmes 2.
WESTVIEW 62, STEELE CANYON 41 – Steele Canyon could not find its offense in Friday’s (Dec. 30) Mt. Carmel Tournament encounter with Westview.
THOMAS FISHBURNE pitched in 10 points as the Cougars played catch-up against the Wolverines.
“We couldn’t hit a shot,” said Cougars coach DEREK STEPHENS. “We played pretty well on defense – we only had 5 turnovers in the game. I would think we’d win the game. We controlled what we could control.”
Steele Canyon: Thomas Fishburne 10, Tyler Smith 8, Jalen Sayles 7, De’Angelo Lewis 5, Nick Barns 5, Kobe Sanders 3, Landon Schirer 3.
Late report/Corrected Score:
NFL YET PREP 66, CHRISTIAN 59 – Christian (8-2) lost the Rancho Solono Tournament championship in Phoenix on Friday (Dec. 30).
Christian: Nashom Carter 34 (5 reb, 3 ast, 6 stl), Jackson Larsen 10 (4 reb, 3 ast), Domanic Safarta 7 (2 reb, 3 ast), Patrick Roberts 6 (5 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl), Jack Mason 2 (3 reb).
CRENSHAW 2, EL CAPITAN 0 – A forfeit was reported for SoCal Holiday Prep Classic game.
HEALTH SCIENCES at EL CAJON VALLEY – no report from the Braves Winter Tournament
