ROUNDUP: League races shaping up
- Updated: February 9, 2018
Santana's BRANDON SIMMONS shoots against El Capitan on Friday night. / photo by Tammy Ryan - TRYAN PHOTOGRAPHY
El Capitan’s CHASE LOVATO and Santana’s ZACH MILLER. / photo by Tammy Ryan – TRYAN PHOTOGRAPHY
2018 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
EastCountySports.com staff report
HELIX 62, VALHALLA 43 – Freshman KAI JESSIE scored 17 points, while senior JAYLEN HINSON added 10 points to lead Grossmont Hills League-leading Helix at home.
Helix improved to 6-2 in the GHL (17-9 overall), good for a one-game lead with two games remaining.
Helix led 16-14 after one quarter, then extended the lead to 30-22 at halftime. It was in the third where the Highlanders pulled away, outscoring the Norsemen, 18-6.
Jessie scored eight points in the third quarter and 12 in the second half.
“It was a good bounce-back game for us after (a home loss to Steele Canyon) Tuesday,” Helix coach BRENNAN CASSADY said. “Kai Jessie had one of his better games. He did a good job staying active on the boards and being aggressive going to the basket.
“CARSON BAKER did a great job rebounding for us.”
Helix’s BRADLEY DUNN added nine points.
TY SCHIMKE had 15 points for Valhalla, including seven in the fourth quarter, while teammates RAMZI SULTAN had 11 points and VENCIL YOUSIF contributed nine points on three three-pointers, respectively.
MICHA CAMPOS was 4-for-4 from the line in the opening quarter for Valhalla.
Santana scores against El Capitan on Friday night. / photo by Tammy Ryan – TRYAN PHOTOGRAPHY
SANTANA 64, EL CAPITAN 53 – The Sultans jumped out to a big lead and held off the Vaqueros’ mad rush in the fourth.
The Sultans looked a cool as a cucumber on the road with a massive 24-10 lead after one quarter.
Things looked cozy with a 53-31 lead after three quarters for the visitors.
The Sultans’ NICK BERHALTER had 20 points, while teammates ANDREW HITCHCOCK had 12 points and T.C. SIMMONS chipped in with 9 points, respectively, in the contest.
However, El Capitan’s JACOB PFITZNER had a three-pointer in the fourth quarter to put some doubt in the outcome.
But Santana junior DESMOND WILLIAMS drove past three unwilling defenders to the basket for a key bucket in the fourth to reassure the Sultans’ edge.
The second-place Sultans improved to 4-2 in the Grossmont Valley League.
CHRISTIAN 63, SCRIPPS RANCH 51 – After leading 32-25 at halftime, the Patriots blitzed the Falcons in the third, 24-6, only to have to hold off a minor challenge in the fourth.
The Patriots’ JACKSON LARSEN made a free throw in the fourth quarter that gave Christian a seemingly insurmountable 57-34 lead.
But the Falcons went on a run to close to within single-digits at 57-48.
JAVIER JIMENEZ made a couple of baskets for the Patriots and JORDAN GAINES knocked down a pair of freebies to secure the victory.
Christian improved to 9-1 in the Central League and can secure no less than a share of the title with a win on Saturday night at home against second-place Morse (6-2) at Ryan Center at 7.
FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 84, ORANGE GLEN 49 – The second-ranked Knights (21-5) moved to 10-0 in the Coastal League and won their 13th-straight game.
The Knights led 31-2 at the end of the first quarter behind the play of junior JAREN NAFARETTE, who had 17 points in the game.
Foothills Christian led 54-18 at halftime.
D.J. CARTER-HOLLINGER added 24 points for the Knights.
FCHS claims a share of the Coastal crown. Any win by Foothills Christian or loss from La Jolla Country Day from here on out and FC will be sole champions once again.
MOUNT MIGUEL 79, EL CAJON VALLEY 35 – The 10th-ranked Matadors won on the road and officially clinched the Grossmont Valley League championship.
The Matadors improved to 7-0 on the league season and 24-4 overall.
Mount Miguel travels to meet Escondido in a non-league game on Saturday at 5.
