Helix wins late; Hillers down Eagles
- Updated: December 18, 2018
2018 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
EastCountySports.com staff report
NATIONAL CITY – Helix Highlander junior SAMMY STEWART scored a bakset-and-one with just seconds remaining, giving the Scotties a 45-42 Lions Club Frank Pekarek Classic win over the Lincoln Hornets on Monday night at Sweetwater High.
Helix led 41-40 with 1:02 to play in regulation. The Hornets tied the game at 42-all with just 30 seconds left.
But with under 20 seconds left, Stewart circled his dribble 30 feet from the hoop to square up his defender, then dribbled past him and drove to the basket where he put up a shot off the glass over four converging defenders as he drew the foul with 12.2 seconds left.
He made the free throw for the final margin.
#2018LCFPCLincoln/Helix Finish https://t.co/NJex6hrPnk
— Brandon Wright-Rowan (@BW_DCXIX) December 18, 2018
Stewart scored all 10 of his points in the second half, while KAI JESSE was big in the fourth quarter with seven points.
Stewart, however, was also pivotal on defense throughout the game.
“Throughout the game, we provided a great defensive side against Lincoln,” said Helix senior guard MARCOS IDIOMA, who scored four points in the second quarter as the Highlanders led 21-18 at halftime. “The person who aided the team best defense-wise was Samuel Stewart.”
The Highlanders improved to 4-5 on the season, but it was just Helix’s first game at the tournament. Morse and Point Loma both hold 2-0 records at the Lions Club event so far.
Helix’s MAURICE HOLMES scored 22 points, 16 of which came in the first half.
“I’m very proud of our effort as a team,” Holmes said. “We had problems against their hard-nosed defense like any team does against Lincoln but we did not stop fighting. Really good win for our young and developing team. Great job on the defensive end and boards all night.”
Helix’s defensive effort in the first quarter limited Lincoln to just six points as the Highlanders led 10-6.
“We also remained consistent with the physicality, as they are known to be quite physical,” Idioma said. “I tried my best to keep the ball fluctuating and keep the tempo of the game consistent and quick.
“Hopefully, our team will carry this same energy and physicality into the next game. As a team, we have the pieces to go far, we are allowing (Coach John) Singer to mold us into a better team.”
GROSSMONT 45, GRANITE HILLS 32 – The Grossmont Foothillers forced the Granite Hills Eagles to miss their first 14 shots, as the Hillers went on to win the game.
Grossmont limited the Eagles to just 4-of-28 shooting from the field in the first half.
JOHN YAKOU led Granite Hills with 14 points, while teammate MCKAY ROBERTS added eight points.
“(We) played hard,” Granite Hills coach DAN DUFFY said. “Neither team shot very well. We just couldn’t’ score. We’re very streaky, very young.”
CALEB ERICKSON had 14 rebounds and three blocked shots for the Eagles.
SAN DIEGO 81, EL CAPITAN 76 (OT) – The Cavers defeated the Vaqueros in overtime in a Grossmont Winter Tournament game at Grossmont High.
Junior guard JACOB PFITZNER scored 27 points to lead the Vaqueros.
The Vaqueros led 31-30 at halftime, but San Diego led 60-48 in the fourth quarter.
However, El Capitan closed with a 14-2 run, including a length-of-the-court drive and layup by JAQORI HARRIS near the end of regulation to force overtime.
Sophomore guard KALEN LAVALLAIS inbounded the ball.
San Diego led 73-71 with 31 seconds left in overtime when they got a basket-and-one for a six-point lead.
A.J. Burgin had 20 points for San Diego.
Before the game, Vaquero head coach JEFF BICKFORD resigned and was replaced by El Captian High Athletic Director JASON CAVAZOS, who has previously coached the team.
El Capitan fell to 4-6 overall.
HOOVER 52, SANTANA 47 – The Cardinals knocked off the Sultans at the Grossmont Winter Tournament at Grossmont High.
The Sultans have now lost six in-a-row and are 2-9 overall.
