East County Sports

Hawks steal upset from The Master’s

Cynnadie Whatley of the Hawks. / SDCC Hawks

2021 SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN HAWKS BASKETBALL

ECS staff report

SAN DIEGO – Sophomore guard Cynnadie Whatley celebrated her birthday a few days early.

On Friday (Feb.19), she poured in a season-high 19 points, then registered a key steal in the final minutes, lifting San Diego Christian College to a 71-62 triumph over The Master’s University at Kroc Center. BOXSCORE

The decision left the Hawks (7-5 overall) tied with the Mustangs (6-5) in a second-place deadlock in the East Division at 5-3, with the schools again squaring-off to complete the Golden State Athletic Conference slate. The tie-breaker is set for Saturday at 3 p.m., again at Kroc Center on University Avenue.

Whatley, who previously totaled 17 points against Bethesda (California) in the second game of the season, but it was her defensive play with proved decisive down the stretch.

After The Master’s moved to within 62-60 with 1:57 remaining, Whatley grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled on her put-back attempt. She made one foul shot, then Keren Hogue added two free throws for a 67-62 lead.

Whatley then got her hand in a passing lane to steal the ball with 39 seconds left. She was again fouled and made a pair of free throws, followed by two FTS by Courtney Cranston to seal the triumph.

The ballclubs were level at 33-all at the intermission but tallied seven of her 17 points in the third period for a 53-47 advantage.

Cranston, a junior forward, also grabbed 11 rebounds, giving the Hawks ad advantage of 11 on the boards, 39-28. Hogue added 13 points and six rebounds.

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San Diego Christian College opened with a surprising 22-19 lead on The Master’s University when Mustangs head coach Kelvin Starr – the former Hawks mentor – got fed up with his starters and tossed three substitutes into Friday’s GSAC contest.

Starr welcomed the results after The Master’s closed the contest’s final 25 minutes with a 53-29 run to take a 72-51 decision over the hosts at Kroc Center.

TMU (15-3 overall, 4-3 GSAC) which subbed liberally, saw three players score 10 points, as 10 players hit the scorebook.

San Diego Christian (1-14, 1-8) saw senior guard Teyden Gause tally 11 of his game-high 18 points in the first half.

Greg Chew and Jermaine Camacho led the Hawks with seven rebounds each.

The Master’s 63, San Diego Christian 60 – A forgettable 1-15 season ended Saturday (Feb. 20) with a close setback to the Mustangs at Kroc Center.

Once again, the Hawks had an opportunity to tie or move in front over the final moments but shot themselves in the foot. This time, a potential game-tying foul shot with 1:12 remaining was missed, then TMU mae its next three shots from the floor to stay in front.

JaMario Harris paced the Hawks (1-9 GSAC) with 17 points, followed by 11 from both Riley Blea and Teyden Gause.

The Master’s (16-3 overall, 5-3 GSAC)  were led by 24 points from Kaleb Lowery.

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