Curtis, Weckback steer El Cap to win
- Updated: December 13, 2017
2017 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
EastCountySports.com staff report
RANCHO BUENA VISTA – The El Capitan girls basketball team earned its biggest win of the season with a 51-41 victory at Rancho Buena Vista Tuesday night.
The Vaqueros roster, comprised almost entirely of sophomores and freshman, looks like a junior varsity list.
In fact, the group is so young, that not one varsity member has their driver’s license yet.
But a core group of four freshman and two sophomores continue to improve every time they step on the floor and are certainly playing an upper-class role.
In the win on Tuesday, El Cap was short-handed on the bench, so the stars had to work extra hard to earn the road win.
Freshman MACKENZIE CURTIS scored 22 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter as the Vaqueros outscored the Longhorns, 17-9.
“We only had 6 players available tonight and they all came up big,” El Capitan coach DARIN CURTIS said. “DEVON BULLOCK did a better job attacking their 1-3-1 defense and did a solid job on defense.”
However, the difference in the game was the inside presence of freshman SERENE WECKBACK, who had her first career double-double and added 6 blocked shots, as well.
“It was Serene’s presence in paint that the held the Longhorns to 6 points in the 3rd quarter and allowed us to pull away,” Curtis said.
Weckback herself scored six points in the third to match RBV.
“JORDAN GRANDY came up big with several steals and KYLIE MEAD got us off to a good start with some quick baskets and a couple of assists,” Curtis added.
Freshman SHIANA PERES had three clutch layups against the Longhorns’ press in the fourth quarter.
“Shiana was tough on defense all night,” Curtis said. “It was nice to pull away in the 4th quarter without having any subs.”
The contest had a unique scoring start as the game was tied 13-all at the end of the first quarter, then again was tied 26-all at halftime, for a pair of 13-to-13 quarters.
MOUNT MIGUEL 66, SCRIPPS RANCH 36 – The Matadors were the county’s new top-ranked team at the start of the day in the official computer power rankings, then CAMARA DOUGLAS nearly outscored Scripps Ranch (1-2), finishing with 30 points in Mount Miguel’s ninth-straight win to open the season.
TIAJA BENNETT added 12 points for the Lady Matadors, who are also currently ranked seventh in the state.
The Matadors get another exciting matchup at home on Saturday night when they host 13th-ranked La Costa Canyon at 7:30.
FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 54, SAN YSIDRO 50 – The Lady Knights – led by junior IRENE ISSA and senior JANEL RODRIGUEZ – rushed to an 8-4 edge in overtime
Rodriguez had a tremendous performance on the boards with 24 rebounds.
Freshman CHRISTIE SARKIS and junior EMYROSE ANCHO also played well for FCHS.
The Knights trailed 27-20 at halftime.
Foothills Christian is now 3-4 and will face Santana next, but not until Wed., Dec. 27, at 3:30 at the Holiday Prep Tourney in Santee.
MONTE VISTA 37, ROCK ACADEMY 21 – The Monarchs outscored the Warriors 18-3 in the second quarter to lead by a dozen at halftime.
The Monarchs improved to 2-4.
Monte Vista will be at home in the Steele Canyon Lady Cougar Tournament on Saturday at 9 a.m. against Sage Creek (1-2) in what should prove to be a close game.
MAR VISTA 45, VALHALLA 22 – The Lady Norsemen tumbled to their second defeat in as many starts in a home loss to the Mariners.
Valhalla battled back from a 10-point deficit after one to trail by just five at halftime.
However, the Norsemen were blanked in the third, 15-0.
Junior guard MIRANDA ALKATIB led Valhalla with seven points.
“The girls are improving and things will start to click,” Valhalla coach MARC CARTER said. “Mar Vista played a solid game and did not make a lot of turnovers.”
Valhalla is next in action on Wed., Dec. 20, at home against Grossmont Conference foe Helix in the Lady Colts Tournament at 3 p.m.
CALVIN CHRISTIAN 34, SANTANA 22 – In their season-opener, the Sultans matched the host Crusaders in the second half, 17-all, but scored just five points in the first half and trailed by 12 at halftime.
The Sultans meet Carlsbad next Tuesday at 7 p.m. on the road.
