Willis’ threes spark Patriots to victory

By Ramon Scott
Updated: May 4, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

EL CAJON – The Christian High Patriots defeated the visiting Mar Vista Mariners, 71-66, on Monday night in a non-league contest at the Ryan Center.

Sophomore Patrick Perez scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and made four steals for Christian High.

Senior Shawn Jackson-Ascura scored 15 points and had 12 rebounds for the Patriots, who improved to 4-3.

Jackson-Ascura also dished out a team-high five assists.

Jackson-Ascura and Perez led the breakdown of the Mariners late in the third in the fourth quarter to help Christian finally start to separate from the visitors. A series of steals and baskets boosted the Pats’ chances.

L.D. Willis, a junior, added 11 points, including a trio of three-pointers for CHS.

Willis knocked down back-to-back treys late in the third quarter to turn a 47-all game into a quick six-point lead.

“I have been working hard on my shot but I couldn’t buy a three the past few games so it felt like my hard work paid off,” Willis said. “The feeling was if I deserved those shots to go down.”

Christian enjoyed a 23-14 scoring edge in the third quarter, including seven points from Perez.

“Mar Vista gave us a great battle,” Christian High head coach Tim Brown said. “We had too many turnovers and played poor transition defense.”

Senior Jack St. Fleur, who announced on Monday that he would be attending San Francisco City College this fall, added 11 points and six rebounds for Christian High. He scored six points in the big third quarter push.

Isaiah Givens finished with eight points and a team-high five steals for the Pats.

Hunter Provience came up with seven points and nine rebounds, while Junior Nelson had four points for the hosts.