GIRLS: League title races heating up
- Updated: February 5, 2020
2020 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
EastCountySports.com staff report
The Grossmont Conference league races remained dramatic after Tuesday night’s action.
The Santana Sultans defeated El Cajon Valley and maintained a one-game lead in the Grossmont Valley League over Monte Vista, which won its fourth-straight game by defeating Valhalla on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, in the Grossmont Hills League, Grossmont knocked off El Capitan to remain alive for the title.
The Vaqueros lead is now just a half-game ahead of 19-time defending champion Mount Miguel, while the Foothillers are just one game back in the loss column with three games to play.
SANTANA 50, EL CAJON VALLEY 26 – Brianna Jerig had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and seven steals for help Santana improve to 6-1 in the Grossmont Valley League.
Lakaila Aquiningoc-David had 12 points, six rebounds, and four steals for the Sultans, who improved to 12-13 overall.
“There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that prepares me for these games,” Aquiningoc-David said. “Brianna Jerig played an amazing game. She was on fire with her three-pointers and really gave us the kickstart for this game. Her defense also held the El Cajon team.
Bella Terry went for eight points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and had four blocked shots for Santana.
Joey Barkhimer scored four points and had 10 boards for Santana.
Taylinn Warren had 14 caroms for the Sultans, who led 33-10 at halftime.
“There is no one person that makes our team great,” Aquiningoc-David said. “We just all played well together, we capitalized on their mistakes and we also created for ourselves and each other. Coach Jordan (Franey) also made great calls on what defense we were in. We switched it up a lot and didn’t allow El Cajon to get comfortable with one defense.”
For the Braves, freshman Ruth Taulanga scored seven points, and junior Fineita Taulanga added six points.
The Taulanga duo also combined for 20 rebounds.
Junior Silvia Aboud had three points, two assists and six rebounds for ECV.
Santana (6-1 GVL) will face Monte Vista (5-2 GVL) on Friday in Santee at 5:30.
MONTE VISTA 56, VALHALLA 45 – The Monarchs won against the visiting Lady Norsemen to keep pace with the first-place Sultans, setting up the matchup on Friday.
Sami Gonzalez had 12 points for Monte Vista. She had a three-pointer in Monte Vista’s big 23-point second quarter.
Meadow Delino had eight points for Monte Vista, including a three-pointer in the third quarter.
Senior Jourdan Barber had 10 points for Monte Vista.
Monte Vista jumped out to a 14-2 lead after one quarter.
The Monarchs then led, 23-10, at halftime.
But Valhalla mounted a comeback.
“All of my seniors fouled out one-by-one in order in the fourth quarter,” Monte Vista head coach Sabrina Jimenez said. “We had to play the final four minutes without any of them.”
Sophomore Deshawna Gates had six points in each of the first two quarters for Monte Vista. She also had steals.
For Monte Vista, senior Vanessa Braun had seven points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Senior Maya Garcia had six boards for the Monarchs.
“My seniors came out and left it on the floor, literally,” Jimenez said. “We didn’t plan on them fouling out, but the rest of the girls came in and finished it for them. I am going to miss this group of seniors, they were so coachable and exciting to work with because you could throw anything at this group and they would give it their all. Their leadership and work ethic is going to carry us into these last three games, and I’m expecting them to lead the way.”
Delino had six assists for the Monarchs.
Valhalla got 21 points from senior Lamis Abid.
GROSSMONT 51, EL CAPITAN 50 – Shyann VanKirk scored 17 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and blocked a pair of shots to help Grossmont to the key Grossmont Hills League win over the Vaqueros.
Sarah Henry scored 14 points for the Foothillers
El Capitan junior Mackenzie Curtis scored all of her 17 points in the first half. She had a three-pointer in both the first and second quarters.
Tiffany Bickford had a pair of three-pointers in the fourth quarter. She finished with 15 points for El Cap.
Shiana Peres added 11 points for El Capitan, which was 6-of-6 from the line in the fourth quarter.
Grossmont was 12-of-25 from the free-throw line, while El Capitan was 14-of-16 from the free-throw stripe.
Grossmont improved to 3-2 in league play and 12-11 overall.
The Vaqueros are now 5-1 in the GHL and 16-9 overall.
HELIX 44, WEST HILLS 27 – The Helix girls were the first team to win a game in the “new” gym following the refurbishing of the famous gym on the La Mesa campus.
On Senior Night, the Highlanders defeated West Hills in front of parents and fans who were seated on portable chairs at courtside.
Helix held West Hills scoreless in the second quarter to take a 13-9 lead into halftime.
Sophomore Ariy’Ana Duke scored 15 points and grabbed 19 rebounds for Helix
Junior Selena Solomon finished with 10 points and seven rebounds for the Lady Highlanders.
Helix junior Le’Niyah Jones added eight points and blocked three shots.
Seniors Meisha Myers and Jada Patterson were honored.
Helix improved to 14-8 overall and 2-4 in the Grossmont Hills League.
CHRISTIAN 68, SCRIPPS RANCH 57 – The Patriots got 24 points from Allie Carreon and Christian improved to 4-2 in the Western League to remain alive for a share of the league title.
Carreon had three three-pointers on the night.
Simone James added 19 points for Christian.
Amaya Howard had a pair of treys early and finished with 10 points.
Kristin Williams added seven points, including a three in the first half.
The seventh-ranked Patriots improved to 17-9 overall. Christian hosts first-place Cathedral Catholic (6-0 Western) on Friday at 6 at the Ryan Center.
FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 67, MARANATHA CHRISTIAN 24 – The Knights rolled past the Eagles in a Pacific League contest, leading 40-6 at halftime.
Ellie Turk, a senior, scored 25 points to lead the Knights. She made three three-pointers.
Turk also added seven rebounds, 10 assists, and eight steals. She also blocked three shots.
Junior Caroline Burke and sophomore Nataly Bravo finished with 15 points apiece.
Burke added six rebounds and six steals, while Bravo filled the stat sheet with four rebounds, four assists, and five steals.
Junior Arantxa Fonseca scored 10 points, blocked two shots, and grabbed 14 rebounds for Foothills Christian (3-0 Pacific, 21-4 overall), which won its sixth-straight game.
GRANITE HILLS 45, STEELE CANYON 34 – Granite Hills won its third Grossmont Valley League game of the season by defeating the host Cougars.
No scoring information was reported.
Granite Hills will host Valhalla on Friday at 5:30.
MOUNTAIN EMPIRE 53, WARNER 30 –
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