Norsemen create four-way log-jam
- Updated: January 16, 2019


2019 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
VALHALLA 60, EL CAPITAN 51
By Ramon Scott
EastCountySports.com
LAKESIDE – Valhalla sophomore JOE AVALOS got hot early and the Norsemen rekindled the fire in the third quarter to defeat the host El Capitan Vaqueros, 61-50, in a key Grossmont Valley League contest on Tuesday night.

Valhalla has several players to worry about for a defense, but the attention given to the Norsemen stars in the first quarter, allowed the spotlight to shine on Avalos in the early going.
The sharp-shooting Avalos knocked down four three-pointers in the opening quarter, as Valhalla led 14-9 after one period.
“They were focused on DOM (
“When they feed me the ball and I start hitting my shots it opens up the lane for those guys to get layups.”
Gaines was able to approach the lane, drawing the defense to guard him closer, then was moving past the defenders to get the angle off the glass. He did this several times during the game.
Valhalla senior JORDAN GAINES scores late in the second quarter to send the Norsemen into the locker room with a 24-22 lead over host El Capitan in a Grossmont Valley League game on Tuesday evening… pic.twitter.com/aTkLHzFXlT
— Ramon Scott (@RamonScottPoker) January 16, 2019
The Vaqueros, however, had a strong second quarter
Valhalla’s proficient trio, however, of Gaines,
“Jordan is able to get us buckets when we need them and he knows how to use his body to either finish the layup or get a foul call,” Avalos said. “Dom was not having the best

After the Norsemen built a 12-point lead early in the fourth, El Cap kept the game and their fans alive with a mini-rush to pull within 56-51 behind the confident scoring drives by junior JACOB PFITZNER.
However,
Gaines finished with 17 points, while
O’Neill scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

The win drew pre-season favorite Valhalla (16-3, 2-1 GVL) into a four-way tie with the previously league unbeaten Vaqueros (11-8, 2-1 GVL), along with Granite Hills (2-1 GVL) and Santana (2-1 GVL).
“After our loss to Granite, this was a must-win
Valhalla has a non-league home game scheduled for Wednesday against the Madison Warhawks at 5:15 before facing the Sultans on the road this Friday in Santee at 7.
The Vaqueros travel to face El Cajon Valley on Friday at 7.