Matadors pressure Hillers into defeat
- Updated: January 24, 2018
Grossmont and Mount Miguel battle for a rebound on Tuesday evening.
2018 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
Grossmont drives against Mount Miguel on Tuesday evening in La Mesa. / photo by Dave Dickens
EastCountySports.com staff report
LA MESA – Hey, nineteen.
The No 1-ranked Mount Miguel Matadors won their 19th-straight contest to open the season on Tuesday night, scoring the first eight points of the game en route to a 66-36 Grossmont Hills League win over the host Grossmont Foothillers.
Mount Miguel senior CAM DOUGLAS scored 23 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had three steals as the Matadors improved to 3-0 in the GHL, tied for the top with last year’s title challenger, West Hills.
Three Matadors – juniors LALLI GURROLA and TIAJA BENNETT, and freshman SYLENA PETERSON – each scored 12 points.
The Foothillers made their strongest push in the second quarter to close a double-digit lead to 21-14.
“We had a very good start tonight,” said Grossmont coach GRACE CAMPBELL. “That’s the Grossmont basketball we know and have been lacking the last six games.
Grossmont’s CANDACE HENDERSON grabs a pass in mid-air on Tuesday night. / photo by Dave Dickens
“Mount Miguel is the best team in the East County always enjoy playing teams like that.”
Mount Miguel led 34-14 at halftime.
“I thought Grossmont played harder and with more determination than we did tonight,” Mount Miguel coach ROBBIE SANDOVAL said. “If we want to improve and be the No. 1 team in the county, we need to bring it every night.
“Championship teams are supposed to bring it every night.”
Still, Grossmont’s defense appeared to be on the attack, recording 21 steals, including six apiece from Bennett and junior guard MICHELLE CORLEY, who also grabbed three boards.
“I thought a flaw tonight was when we panicked when it came to pressure from Mount Miguel,” said Grossmont senior forward JAZMINE LEE. “We were able to draw a play to counteract their press and it worked well.”
Bennett also grabbed seven rebounds, while Peterson corraled five caroms and dished out six assists.
“We played at a fast, aggressive tempo that we should have been playing at this whole season,” said Grossmont juniro MARISSA GILES. “We had a great game against an extremely talented and experienced opponent. I feel we maintained our aggressiveness throughout both halves.”
Mount Miguel will host Santana (0-3 GHL, 3-8) on Friday at 5:30)
The Foothillers (8-9) will try to get into the league win column when they host Granite Hills (1-2 GHL, 6-11).
