Wolf Pack cashes in on fifth straight

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: April 7, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

SANTEE – The West Hills Wolf Pack cashed in another victory on Tuesday night to improve to 5-0 on the season.

This time, Cash Creighton hit a three-pointer with 25 seconds left in the game to hold the Pack dust off the Santana Sultans, 49-46, in a battle between city rivals.

The Wolf Pack defended a pair of Sultan field goal attempts in the last 12 seconds to hold on for the win over stubborn Santana (1-3).

The Wolf Pack appear to be the most-improved East County boys varsity team out of the gate.

Kyle Dobyns continued his outstanding play with 16 points for West Hills.

Brendan Greene added 11 points for West Hills, while Creighton finished with eight points.

The improvement is mostly attributed to a veteran team that had good success last season, but this season’s start is something to take note of, coming off a 14-15 campaign (6-4 in the Grossmont Hills League) which included a playoff victory.

West Hills trailed Santana, 30-27, at halftime but led by one after three quarters.

Dobyns hit a pair of three-pointers in the third quarter, while the rest of the Wolf Pack knocked down treys in the fourth.

Luke Gibson and Ryan Mailloux all made a three-pointer in the fourth quarter to keep Santana at bay.

For the Sultans, it was all about Alden. Alden Rasmusson.

The Santana senior center was hard to contain in the first half, as he scored 12 of his 20 first-half points in the second quarter. He also amassed double figures in rebounds.

However, the Wolf Pack limited him in the second half. He had only one field goal in the third and the fourth quarter.

Senior playmaker Ethan Wolchko made a three-pointer in the fourth quarter for Santana. He finished with nine points.

“I’m so happy for my boys and their families that they get to see their boys play live again,” Barry said. “I was definitely impressed with how well Santana played but I am also proud of my kids that are finding ways to grind through multiple sports and I couldn’t be more pleased with them.”

HELIX 59, MONTE VISTA 43 – The Highlanders knocked off the Monarchs on Tuesday in Spring Valley.

Isaiah Thomas had a pair of three-pointers for Helix in the first quarter.

Monte Vista led 4-3 three minutes into the game when Markees Williams hit a three-pointer to make it 6-4.

Williams had five three-pointers in the contest.

Thomas hit a three-pointer to make it 9-4 with 4:30 to go in the first quarter.

Thomas again hit from downtown to make it 12-6 with a minute to play in the first quarter.

Peyton Steele had five steals for Helix in the contest.

Sophomore Ahkwon White hit a three-pointer for Helix to make it 39-31. He had three treys in the game.

Bona O’Quinn had a putback for Helix to make it 41-31.

In the fourth quarter, Grant Haytasingh scored on a fastbreak to give Helix a 41-31 lead.

White added another three-pointer to make it 46-31 in favor of the Highlanders.

Helix improved to 3-3.