Eagles get big GVL win; Pack’s Cool puts back buzzer-beater

By Bill Dickens
Updated: February 2, 2017

Granite Hills players salute the flag before the game at Mount Miguel Wednesday.

2016-17 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com

SPRING VALLEY (2-2-17) — Granite Hills’ RYAN KELLY dominated the game in Wednesday’s (Feb. 1) Grossmont Valley League showdown with Mount Miguel.

The 6-foot-8 senior tallied 19 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, one steal and 3 blocks, propelling the Eagles to a last second 57-55 victory over the Matadors.

Kelly saved his heroics for the final seconds as he scored 8 points in the fourth quarter.

Granite Hills led by 12 points with 3 minutes left.

“They did a great job of coming back and tied the game with 12 seconds remaining,” said Eagles coach RANDY ANDERSON. “Kelly made a nice post move and got fouled with 5.6 seconds left. He made one free throw and missed the second.”

“It was a great back-and-forth game,” said Mount Miguel coach JAY ROWLETT. “It was a tie game with 12 second left. With 5.6 seconds left we fouled Kelly. He missed a free throw (his only miscue of the night) and we got the rebound. MIKEECE DUNBAR missed a 3 from the corner.”

CAMERON SPITZER, who played all 32 minutes, hit 6 of 12 from the floor including one trey.

One of the key players coming off the bench for Granite Hills was AARON COBB.

“Even though his points don’t show it, he did a real good job for us,” said Anderson.

For Mount Miguel, RICKY HARVEY pumped in a career-high 20 points, while JAMES ALLEN tossed in 17 including 4 for 4 from the free throw line. Allen also dealt 3 assists and made 3 steals.

DARIAN NORWOOD rolled a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds for Mount Miguel, while MARQUISE EDWARDS snared 8 rebounds and notched a couple of steals.

Granite Hills hosts El Cajon Valley Friday (Feb. 3) at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, Mount Miguel will host Santana on that date and time.

Granite Hills: Ryan Kelly 19 (15 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl, 3 blk), Cameron Spitzer 13 (1 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk), Moses Smith 9 (3 reb, 1 ast, 3 blk), Jorden Rogers 8 (3 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl), Aaron Cobb 4, Xsavier Smith 4 (5 reb, 1 ast, 2 blk).

Mount Miguel: Ricky Harvey 20 (5 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl), James Allen 17 (3 ast, 3 stl), Darian Norwood 14 (11 reb, 2 stl), Devon Brown 2 (3 reb), Mikeece Dunbar 2 (1 ast, 1 stl), Marquis Neal (1 ast, 1 stl), Marquise Edwards (8 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl).

WEST HILLS 59, STEELE CANYON 58 – THOMAS FISHBURNE provided the spark for Steele Canyon, scoring 20 points in Wednesday’s (Feb. 1) Grossmont Valley League make-up game.

GAGE SANDERS handed out superior support with 16 points, four of which were treys.

“We were leading 50-36 going into the fourth quarter,” said Steele Canyon coach DEREK STEPHENS. “We just got stagnant in the fourth.

“They scored a basket with 25 seconds left to go ahead 57-56. Thomas Fishburne scored a layup with 10 seconds left and the score at 58 (Steele Canyon) to 57 (West Hills). MARQUELL COOL got an offensive rebound and made a basket with one second left for West Hills with a two foot shot to win it.”

“We played pretty good defense,” Stephens added.

CAMERON BARRY paced West Hills with 19 points on 5 for 5 free throw shooting and a pair of triples.

Cool finished with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 1 steal.

CHRIS MOYER dropped in 10 points for the Pack.

Both teams are 3-1 at the end of the first round of Grossmont Hills League play.

West Hills: Cameron Barry 19 (4 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl), Marquell Cool 17 (4 reb, 1 stl), Chris Moyer 10 (4 reb, 1 blk), Nathan Ball 7 (6 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 1 blk), Adam Dillion 6 (2 reb), Brandon Peterson (1 blk), Chris Schroeder (1 reb, 2 ast).

Steele Canyon: Thomas Fishburne 20, Gage Sanders 16, Tyson Smith 8, De’Angelo Lewis 6, Kobe Sanders 3, Jalen Sayles 3, Nick Barns 2.

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