BOYS: Patriots knock off Foothillers
- Updated: April 21, 2021
EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
EastCountySports.com staff report
EL CAJON – A couple of East County teams that seemed to match up well on paper translated that competitive equality to the court on Tuesday evening at Grossmont High.
The Christian Patriots knocked off 18th-ranked Grossmont, 67-61, as the hosts led by just two at halftime, 26-24, but used a 19-12 edge in the third quarter to extend the lead.
“There were a lot of turnovers,” Christian High head coach Tim Brown said. “I have to tip my hat to Grossmont for capitalizing on our mistakes, they are a resilient group. We had foul trouble all night, however, our bench guys stepped up and played very well for us. Our free-throw shooting (7-for-19), turnovers (20), and fouls never completely allowed us to pull away.”
Sophomore Patrick Perez scored 19 points and had nine rebounds for the Patriots.
Perez, a guard, had a pair of three-pointers and also blocked four shots.
“I have confidence in us as a team that if we just play hard and come ready, we can really play against any team,” Perez said. “This was the first bigger challenge we might face but if we push through until the end of the game, even against adversity, it’s going to be a good result for us.”
Christian’s Shawn Jackson-Ascura added 14 points, four steals, and eight rebounds.
“The fouls called against us wouldn’t allow us to get into a rhythm,” Jackson-Ascura said. “We couldn’t run the lanes, we couldn’t get a steal because instantly a foul would be called, so we had to play it safe, keep our feet moving and put our hands up to defend. I just told my team that we needed to stay disciplined.”
Junior Nelson had 11 points for the Pats despite being saddled with foul trouble in the second half.
Christian improved to 3-0.
“We need to be mentally and physically prepared for our next game,” Jackson-Ascura said. “This next game will be great competition and a tough team to get us ready for league play. We have to clean the mistakes up and be ready to defend our home court.”
Christian will face ninth-ranked Mission Hills on Thursday at the Ryan Center at 6:30.
“They are a great team,” Brown said of the Grizzlies. “We might see each other in the playoffs so they are a great team to face in nonleague prior to the start of our league play to use as a measuring stick.”
The Foothillers fell to 8-2.
“Grossmont will definitely make noise in the playoffs,” Brown said.
HELIX 74, MONTE VISTA 54 – Helix dominated the first quarter to win handily against the visiting Monarchs.
Monte Vista star Brandon Tully rolled his ankle in the first quarter and didn’t return.
Tully’s playing status for Friday’s game with Mount Miguel is likely in question.
Juinor Bona O’Quinn had a steal and layup in the first quarter as the Highlanders bolted out to a 6-1 lead.
Sophomore Ahkwon While had a three-pointer to put Helix up 15-5.
Junior Markees Williams had a steal and a layup for Helix to make it 29-15 in favor of the Highlanders.
Williams had a three-pointer to make it 44-27, then later knocked down a three to extend it to 69-43.
Helix senior Peyton Steele had a three-pointer for a 74-51 lead.
Helix outrebounded Monte Vista, 51-21.
Armondo Rasing led the Monarchs with 12 points – all coming on four second-half three-pointers.
Cameron McKan scored all nine of his points in the first half, including a three-pointer made in the second quarter, for Monte Vista.
“We’re going to try and continue to right this ship,” Monte Vista head coach Mike Tully said.
WEST HILLS 47, EL CAJON VALLEY 45 – West Hills survived a scare from the winless Braves in Santee as Kyle Dobyns scored 19 points for the Wolf Pack, including 7-for-7 from the foul line.
However, it was senior Ryan Mallioux who came up big for West Hills in the fourth quarter, making a pair of three-pointers and two free throws.
Junior Jake Partington followed up his much-discussed performance in West Hills’ last game with eight points, as well.
West Hills trailed 24-20 at halftime but led 34-33 after three quarters.
“Even though we are limping physically into league, I know my boys will leave it on the floor,” West Hills head coach Tim Barry said. “We have not played our regular starting lineup for two weeks but will still bring it come the league opener (at home against Helix).”
El Cajon Valley got 24 points from junior Jayden Barnett, making 7-of-9 from the line. He knocked down three three-pointers in the game.
Sophomore Quaylon Bryant finished with 13 points, including a pair of threes.
The Braves were 14-of-18 from the charity stripe.
“(Head coach) Ray (Mills) is doing such a great job at ECVHS,” Barry said. “They are playing very hard for him. We couldn’t contain Barnett. We were fortunate to get the win.”
West Hills improved to 8-2.
SANTANA 51, VALHALLA 45 – Using primarily an interior game, The Sultans stunned the visiting Norsemen
Santana made just one three-pointer to seven made threes for the Norsemen.
Senior Ethan Wolchko led the Sultans with 17 points and 12 rebounds
Senior Alden Rasmussen had 10 points and nine rebounds for Santana. He also blocked a pair of shots.
Santana’s Carson Burton did the dirty work, grabbing nine rebounds, making a team-high three assists, and also blocked a pair of shots, to go along with seven points.
Joe Avalos and Alden Elliasen both had 13 points for Valhalla. Avalos added 10 boards.
GRANITE HILLS 73, VICTORY CHRISITAN 53 – Eagles junior Tre Edmond scored 24 points for Granite Hills.
The Eagles got a big contribution from junior Joseph Sagmani with 19 points and 15 rebounds.
Sophomore Lewand Zanaga added 14 points for Granite Hills. He also had 12 rebounds, as Granite Hills outrebounded Victory Christian, 63-19.
Zanaga also blocked seven shots in the game.
Matt Keeley grabbed 17 rebounds for a team-high for Granite.
SANTA FE CHRISTIAN 82, FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 50 – Senior Derrien Carter-Hollinger led the Knights with 17 points and six rebounds but FCHS fell to 2-7.
Junior Anthony Lambert made three three-pointers for the Knights.
The fourth-ranked Eagles built a 21-9 lead after one quarter.
CORONADO 69, MOUNT MIGUEL 56 – The 15th-ranked Islanders led just 39-35 at halftime but stymied the Matadors (4-2) in the third quarter with an 18-5 edge.
MARANATHA CHRISTIAN 53, EL CAPITAN 37 – On Wednesday, the Eagles trailed the host Vaqueros 10-5 after the first quarter.
Maranatha led 23-18 at halftime.
For El Capitan, Trevor Moklestad had 12 points, while teammate Jayden Johnson added 11 points.
CORONADO 85, STEELE CANYON 48 – The Islanders led 47-25 at halftime.
