ROUNDUP: Vaqueros clinch at least share of Valley League title
- Updated: February 8, 2017
The El Capitan High girls varsity basketball team poses for a picture in the Grossmont gym following their victory Tuesday night.
2016-17 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
LA MESA – A year ago, El Capitan finished 5-20, but the Vaqueros, under coach DARIN CURTIS, have turned their game around this season.
Tuesday evening in La Mesa, the Vaqueros achieved a major goal in their turnaround by capturing at least a share of the Grossmont Valley League championship with a come-from-behind 46-43 win over the defending league champion Grossmont Foothills.
“Grossmont is the defending league champs for a reason and they came to play tonight,” said Curtis.
MARIE COOK clipped in 17 points including 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
GRACE BURKETT pitched in 4 points, 9 rebounds and one steal, while JORDAN GRANDY tossed in 8 points on 2 for 2 shooting from 3-point range, including 2 rebounds.
“We had a good first quarter, but they took over in the second quarter and controlled the game for most of the way,” said Curtis.
“Freshman point guard DEVON BULLOCK is the unsung hero for us tonight,” Curtis added. “I don’t know if she scored a point, but she had the ball 75 percent of the time tonight and brought it up against their full court pressure.
“Seniors Marie Cook and Grace Burkett were the backbone for our team. Marie had a good game scoring throughout and Grace picked up her game at the defensive end with her intensity and hustle.
“McKENZI KYGAR added a needed spark in the fourth quarter when we went our 19-9 run.”
Freshman STEPHANIE ADAMS proved to be the difference-maker again tonight with a triple-double and was the determining factor at both ends of the court.
“We did not play our best game tonight, but we made the plays down the stretch when we needed it,” Curtis said.
Grossmont led 20-16 at halftime and held the advantage 30-27 through the third quarter.
“El Cap played a great game, they fought hard to the end,” said Foothillers coach GRACE CAMPBELL. “They wanted it more than we did. They deserve to be league champs.”
The Foothillers trail by two games with two games to play. El Capitan can win the championship outright with a win at home Friday night against El Cajon Valley.
El Capitan: Not available.
Grossmont: Grace Cercado 10 (4 reb, 5 stl), Athena Sotelo 9, Emily Barnes 8 (7 reb), Candace Henderson 7, Taisha Silas 6 (8 reb), Tyana Warsaw 3 (4 reb).
MOUNT MIGUEL 60, HELIX 34 — Mount Miguel slapped Helix on Tuesday night (Feb. 7) in a Grossmont Hills League, using a 29-10 second quarter to turn the game into a lopsided victory for the Highlanders.
SATERA BATES bombarded the Highlanders with 21 points to swing the vote for Helix.
CAMARA DOUGLAS rolled a double-double of 17 points and 17 rebounds, while LAILA SMITH tossed in 12 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, 8 assists and a steal.
“I thought our effort was really good tonight,” said Matadors coach ROBBIE SANDOVAL. “We have two big games coming up – at Granite Hills on Friday (Feb. 10) and at Mater Dei on Saturday (Feb. 11).”
Mount Miguel: Satera Bates 21 (3 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl), Camara Douglas 17 (17 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl), Laila Smith 12 (8 reb, 8 ast, 1 stl), Tiaja Bennett 6 (4 reb, 2 ast, 7 stl), Michelle Corley 4 (3 reb, 1 ast, 7 stl), Nyssa Maga (2 stl), Deyonna McBride (2 reb, 3 stl).
Helix: Camryn Owens 10 (6 reb, 5 ast, 3 blk), Danielle Simmons 8 (7 reb, 1 ast, 2 blk), Diamond Whitley 6 (2 stl), Janae White 5 (3 reb), Taliah Hooker 3 (4 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), Marina Smith 2 (2 reb, 1 stl), Olivia Missouria (2 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), Charity McWashington (1 stl), Mariyah Howard (3 reb, 1 ast).
GRANITE HILLS 33, STEELE CANYON 28 – Although none of the Cougars scored in double digits Tuesday night (Feb. 7), they managed to take the lead in the third quarter of the Grossmont Hills League game.
MAKAYLA McCARTHY and MARIANNA MARTINEZ shared the lead for the Cougars with 9 points apiece.
“At one point we got the lead in the third quarter 21-19, but there were a lot of fouls in this game,” said Steele Canyon coach PETER RUIZ. “They pulled away at the free-throw line.”
SHANICE LACY had a big second quarter for Granite Hills, helping stake the Eagles to a 16-13 halftime leader with her scoring and rebounding.
ELIZABETH BOTT gave the Cougars their first lead of the game with a basket to close out the third quarter.
However, the Eagles’ ANYANG AGOTH hit a jumper with 4:24 left in the game to reclaim the lead for Granite Hills at 24-22.
Not to be outdone, Lacy rallied Steele Canyon back into the lead moments later with a bucket to put the Cougars up 26-24.
But Agoth hit a clutch three-pointer with 1:13 left to give Granite Hills a 29-26 edge.
Granite Hills: No report.
Steele Canyon: Makayla McCarthy 9 (4 reb, 2 ast), Marianna Martinez 9 (2 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl), Elizabeth Bott 5 (2 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl), Lala Wadley 2 (2 stl), Nina Taft 1 (1 reb), Tayanna Mason 1 (2 ast), Natalie Snyder (2 reb, 2 ast), Reagan Jordan (2 reb).
CHRISTIAN 52, HOOVER 26 – The Christian High Patriots battled their way to a Central League victory at Hoover Tuesday night (Feb. 7).
MARISSA GILES paced the Patriots with 23 points, 3 rebounds and 6 steals.
BROOKE OWENS pitched in 7 points and snared 6 rebounds.
“It was a good win for us tonight,” said Patriots coach TIFFANY GILES. “A lot of girls got a lot of playing time, so it was good.”
Christian: Marissa Giles 23 (3 reb, 6 stl), Brooke Owens 7 (6 reb, 1 stl), Suzy Webster 7 (1 stl), Hayley Robinson 5 (2 reb, 1 stl), Jasmyn Crawford 5 (2 reb, 1 stl), Cipriana Hudson 2 (1 reb, 1 stl), Alyssa Rothrock 2 (2 reb), Arielah Campbell 2 (1 blk).
WEST HILLS 66, SANTANA 28 – West Hills knocked off Santana Tuesday (Feb. 7) in a Grossmont Hills League encounter.
The Wolf Pack led 31-9 at the half and never looked back.
“We set the pace, got Santana to play the type of game we wanted to play,” said West Hills coach RYAN KINSER. “In match-up one Santana dictated the pace of the game.
“Our girls played hard and with a lot of energy and passion. We were able to force a lot of turnovers early on.”
West Hills (7-1) remains a half-game behind first-place Mount Miguel in the Hills League. The teams meet next Tuesday in Santee where the Wolf Pack could possibly claim a share of the championship with a win over the Matadors (7-0).
West Hills: Vivian Panela 15, Kerrie Daniels 10, Maya Clemons 9, Carly Raley 9, Jessica Fondas-Ryan 8, Cassie Seaboch 4, Sarah Moyer 1.
Valhalla attempts a free throw on Tuesday night against El Cajon Valley.
VALHALLA 43, EL CAJON VALLEY 41 – In a Grossmont Valley League contest that was closely contested in the end, Valhalla rallied from way back over the final minutes to beat El Cajon Valley despite a triple-double by the Braves’ LEANNA WATSON.
“We let a 17-point lead slip away in the fourth quarter,” said El Cajon Valley coach CARLOS MOSS. “We just couldn’t shoot. There were a lot of fouls called in this game. It’s just one of those things that we have to get over the hump.”
Watson finished wtih 25 points, 11 rebounds, 10 steals and five assists.
The Lady Norsemen were led by LAMIS ABID with 15 points.
El Cajon Valley led 12-4 after one quarter and 27-11 at halftime.
El Cajon Valley: Leanna Watson 25 (11 reb, 5 ast, 10 stl), Sumaya Hameed 4 (10 reb, 1 stl), Rania Noori 4 (3 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl), Vean Gorgees 4 (10 reb, 1 stl), Dania Ella 2 (2 reb), Lillian Akintende 2 (4 reb, 3 stl).
