Cougars, Wolf Pack secure second place
- Updated: February 16, 2018
Steele Canyon freshman MAHKAYLAH CLINE (15).
2018 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
EastCountySports.com staff report
The Grossmont Conference leagues may have lacked championship drama going into the final night of the season, but a pair of teams earned their way to a proud second place finish on Friday evening.
STEELE CANYON 40, VALHALLA 32 – Steele Canyon freshman MAHKAYLAH CLINE scored seven of her 11 points in the third quarter, as the Cougars scratched past the Lady Norsemen in the second to finish off the regular season with a Grossmont Valley League win.
ONTV getting #highlights of @valhallahigh vs @steelecanyonhs1 Great job #seniors @valhalla_ASB @Valhallasaga @cifsds pic.twitter.com/B37e0jBzm4
— Orange Nation TV (@orangenationtv) February 17, 2018
Cline was sharp at the line in the third, going 5-for-6 from the charity stripe.
Then sophomore KHYLAYA BRANDY finished off the opponent, scoring six of her nine points in the fourth quarter.
“I feel that this game was way more competitive than the last,” Brandy said of the competitive Valhalla squad. “I just feel they wanted it a little more than we did in the beginning. They were putting more shots up than we were.
Steele Canyon senior ELIZABETH BOTT drove the Cougar offense early with three field goals in the first quarter.
Valhalla led 20-18 at halftime, as junior MIRANDA ALKATIB had a pair of three-pointers in the first quarter.
Senior MICHELLE MAROKI led Valhalla with nine points, including seven in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, Valhalla senior DALIA GAZALLO made a three-pointer.
It was in the fourth quarter where the Cougars used their will after Valhalla held a 28-26 lead after three.
Steele outscored the Lady Norsemen 14-4 over the final eight minutes.
“I think it was a little rusty for us but we still came in for the win,” Brandy said.
The Cougars finished in second place in the GVL with a 6-2 record (15-8 overall).
Both teams await a postseason berth.
Helix and West Hills watch on as a shot goes up on Friday.
WEST HILLS 37, HELIX 32 – Senior KERRI DANIELS and junior HALEY DOUCETTE both scored 10 points as the Wolf Pack enjoyed the home victory in a Grossmont Hills League contest to finish in second place, one spot ahead of the Highlanders.
It was a close finish with West Hills scoring the final five points of the game.
West Hills led 9-8 at the end of the first quarter after initially leading 7-2.
The score was tied 18-all in the opening minute of the third quarter as the score was tied at halftime.
The teams traded the lead in the third.
Helix led 23-33, but West Hills led 27-25 at the end of the quarter.
The Wolf Pack would lead 30-27, but Helix took a 32-31 lead.
Daniels grabbed 17 rebounds and had four steals in the contest, while Doucette made a pair of three-pointers.
Sophomore SARAH MOYER added six points and five rebounds for the Wolf Pack.
Helix is headed to a likely home game in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs next week, while the Wolf Pack faces a road assignment in the Division 1 opening round.
ESCONDIDO CHARTER 49, FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 46 – The White Tigers ultimately clinched the Ocean League championship, turning away second-place Foothills Christian, which came in looking to share the banner.
The Knights finished 8-2, two games back of league undefeated ECHS.
Foothills Christian’s ELLIE TURK scored 26 points, had 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals and 4 blocks.
JANEL RODRIGUEZ contributed four points and 19 rebounds for the Knights, while MAKAYLA BROWN had four points and 17 rebounds in the loss.
