Vaqueros score first 20 points of game
- Updated: January 13, 2018
El Cap's Jordan Grandy (30) and Valhalla's Hunter Ford (20) battle for a rebound. / photo by Ramon Scott
2017 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
By Dave Dickens
EastCountySports.com
LAKESIDE (1-12- 2018) – The El Capitan Lady Vaqueros have been playing with passion and heart all season, and their current record is far from how tough these young ladies play basketball.
And not just play, but compete.
El Capitan’s SHIANA PERES defends against Valhalla on Friday night. / photo by Ramon Scott
Valhalla (2-10, 0-1 GVL), came to Lakeside for their opening league game, as well, hoping they could come away with a win on the road and gain a winning start in league play after coming off a great win against San Ysidro, 52-18, just one week ago.
The Lady Vaqueros were fired up, however, and very understandably since it was the first league game ever played for almost the entire Vaquero squad.
The Vaquero defense was on fire as they held the Lady Norsemen scoreless through the first quarter of action and led 20-0.
“It was amazing to get the win on the first league game of my high school career,” said Lady Vaquero MACKENZIE CURTIS.
If ever there was a talented tandem you could label them “The Terror Twins” in reference to Lady Vaqueros’ Curtis and JORDAN GRANDY, because when they can find each other on the court, there is no stopping those two youngsters from wreaking havoc on any defense.
“Jordan and I came out looking for each other and we got each other our open looks,” Curtis said. “But through the game we unloaded the ball quickly and our passes this game were quicker and made all of our teammates look great.”
“’Mack’ and I definitely know how to set each other very well,” said Grandy.
The El Cap defense was able to limit the Lady Norsemen to only 10 points in the second quarter and for the entire first half, the score from Lakeside was Vaqueros 38, Norsemen 10.
Definitely, it was a completely different Valhalla team that had destroyed San Ysidro on a week ago for their second win on the season.
El Capitan and Valhalla players position themselves on Friday evening.
And honestly, for El Capitan (7-11, 1-0) as well, after a quite sloppy game against West Hills just three days ago, off a 12-point first half with more fouls than points scored for the Vaqueros.
What a change in fortune for both squads.
For Valhalla, junior G MIRANDA ALKATIB had contributed half of the 10 total points scored in the first half of play for the Lady Norsemen, with a three-pointer.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well tonight, but our defense definitely carried us,” said Lady Vaqueros head coach DARIN CURTIS.
Valhalla did all they could to try and stop the Vaquero offensive attack, but the El Cap offensive push, particularly in the second half of play, just proved too much for Valhalla on this particular evening.
“(Head coach MARC (CARTER) really has them playing well, but an injury to his key player left a void in their squad,” coach Curtis said.
The second half of play for the Lady Vaqueros seemed a lot more balanced. Again, to only score 4 points in the third and 7 in the final quarter, Valhalla played hard, but just never got into a rhythm.
For Valhalla, the leading scorer with 7 points was Alkatib, and as a team offense, the Lady Norsemen did have four 3-pointers.
The two leading scorers on the night for the Lady Vaqueros were Curtis, with 18 total points and 4 3-pointers, and the tallest on the court, SERENE WECKBACK, who had 18 total points on the evening.
“I felt our offense was much improved, as we didn’t rush shots on the 3 point line, but instead, played patiently, passed the ball around, and ran our offense until we found an open teammate,” said Weckback.
“Most of the time the open teammate we found was a big on a diagonal, and when we get to success, we (the bigs) finished down low. This night, and our achievements as a team, makes me feel accomplished and wonderful.”
Also notable on the evening of many contributors, was SHIANA PERES, who played lights out defense, added 8 points, and 6 assists.
“We wanted to win tonight because we genuinely care, and that is what made us play great tonight,” said Grandy.
Valhalla (2-10, 01) will face EL Cajon Valley (7-8, 1-0) on Friday the 19th @ Valhalla at 5:30 pm.
