Braves defeat Eagles with close finish
- Updated: November 28, 2019
El Cajon Valley's Paulina Pelayo pulls down a rebound on Wednesday night. / photo by Nicholas James
El Cajon Valley looks to drive against Granite Hills on Wednesday. / photo by Nicholas James
2019 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
EL CAJON VALLEY 59, GRANITE HILLS 51
By Nicholas James
Special to EastCountySports.com
EL CAJON – An early-season battle between two teams ended with the El Cajon Valley Braves defeating the Granite Hills Eagles, 59-51, at Granite Hills High on Thursday evening.
The El Cajon Valley Braves came into the game with a 2-1 record after losing to Southwest (EC) earlier in the week in the Monte Vista Showcase. The Granite Hills Eagles hosted with a 2-1 record after also losing to Southwest (EC) earlier in the week, as well, in the same showcase.
Braves and Eagles in action on Wednesday. / photo by Nicholas James
Both squads pushed forward aggressively in the first half of the game.
The first period was a tight contest between both squads as they struggled early to score before Granite Hills took a one-point lead heading into the second period.
A slow start by ECV allowed the Eagles to take a 10-point lead with four minutes left in the second period.
The score at the half was tied, 34-all, after El Cajon Valley ripped through Granite Hills on a 12-2 run.
The Braves started off the third period with an 8-2 run despite the Eagles taking more shots and grabbing more offensive rebounds. Granite Hills was unable to capitalize on their shots.
By the end of the third, the Braves lead the Eagles by five after Granite Hills cut the lead with a 5-0 run to close the period.
Back and forth basket trades in the fourth period kept the game close, with the Braves leading the Eagles by four with two minutes left in the game.
Tarry Flournoy holds the ball in the air for El Cajon Valley on Wednesday. / photo by Nicholas James
After the Braves made a last-minute layup, the Eagles could not score and the game ended on a block by El Cajon Valley.
Point guard Achella Agoth led Granite Hills with 13 points, with forward Sarah Ladu scoring 11 points.
Forward Ruth Taulanga led the Braves with 18 points, including six in the fourth period to help close the game.
The win pushes El Cajon Valley to 3-1 on the season with their next game on Nov. 29. That game is to be determined later.
Granite Hills drops to 2-2 and is scheduled to play Francis Parker in the Matador Classic on Dec. 2.
