Scotties ready for Matadors Thursday
- Updated: January 3, 2018
2017 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
EastCountySports.com staff report
LA MESA – The Helix Highlanders rode a wave of success all the way to a state division championship game last season but are currently ranked only 15th in the latest county media poll out Tuesday morning.
The Mount Miguel Matadors are currently the highest-ranked team in the Grossmont Conference according to the official computer power rankings entering the week, and are ranked just one notch above the Scotties in the overall section poll, according to the scribes.
Helix freshman KAI JESSIE at the line Tuesday night.
Helix currently doesn’t get as much love from the computers, as the Highlanders’ 8-6 overall mark has them currently as just another contender in Division 1.
But computers don’t take into account when three of Helix’s main players missed nearly the first half of the schedule to-date playing on the gridiron.
Not to mention the departure of one of the nation’s best prep players to a national powerhouse preparatory academy during the summer.
Mount Miguel is 14-2 and has only seen its star rise despite losing the Montgomery tourney championship to the ninth-ranked Aztecs last weekend.
The Matadors are currently a resounding favorite in San Diego Section Division 3, according to the newest computer ratings.
These two teams will clash on Thursday night in their only meeting of the season on at 7 p.m. in La Mesa.
Helix tuned up for that suddenly anticipated showdown by turning up the heat in the second half on helpless San Ysidro, 77-39.
Sophomore big man MAURICE HOLMES led Helix with 16 points.
Senior JAYLEN HINSON slammed his way home to 13 points for the Highlanders.
Senior CARSON BAKER is pure and simply the best length-of-court passer in the county, and how could he not be?
He threw a long bomb to up-and-coming freshman KAI JESSIE, who knew what to do in an easy finish. He ended up with 10 points.
“Our effort and attitude were better this game that our last two games,” Helix interim coach BRENNAN CASSADY said. “We rebounded well on both ends.”
Helix got off to a strong enough start and appeared to take steady control, blowing open to a 22-9 lead after one.
Helix extended the lead to 22 at halftime, but then the Highlanders took an attitude of focus to assure it would be ready for its next challenge.
The Scots outscored San Ysidro, 30-2, in the third period. And it wasn’t necessarily a starter-led assault.
Ten different Highlanders hit the scoresheet in the second half.
“Consistency seems to be lacking in our vocabulary right now so it will be a true test to see how we respond to this win against Mount Miguel,” Cassady said. “(The Matadors) are playing well.”
Mount Miguel last beat Helix in Jan. 2009, but the Highlanders own just five wins since then in a disappointingly sparsely played series.
