Titans take finals bid from Foothillers
- Updated: June 9, 2021
Junior McKenzie Purnell, of Grossmont, dribbles on Wednesday. / P.J. Panebianco
2021 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
EASTLAKE 52, GROSSMONT 45
EastCountySports.com staff report
LA MESA – The Grossmont Foothillers rallied to tie their San Diego Section CIF Division II semifinal game with visiting Eastlake at 38-all in the opening minute of the fourth quarter on Wednesday night.
However, the Titans outscored the Hillers, 14-7, over the final seven minutes to take a 52-45 victory with them back down the 125 and earn a spot in the finals on Saturday against San Dieguito Academy at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine High.
Grossmont senior Daneca Perez looks for a shot on Wednesday. / P.J. Panebianco
The Foothillers jumped out to a 6-2 lead but a 21-4 Eastlake run helped the Titans build a 27-20 edge at halftime.
The Hillers’ Domineece Silvels scored a field goal in the third quarter and junior teammate Shyann Van Kirk came right back down with another bucket as the Foothillers crept to within 36-32 with 1:40 to go in the third quarter.
Van Kirk had 12 points, with eight coming in the second half.
Grossmont senior co-captain Daneca Perez, who finished the final game of her stellar career with 10 points, had a steal and bucket late in the fourth as the margin was 38-35 at the end of three.
Sophomore Cassandra Almendarez made a big three-pointer early in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 38-all.
But from there, it was seemingly all Eastlake.
The Titans led 47-41 with under three minutes left in the game.
Sophomore Isabel Flores, who scored 13 points for Eastlake, hit a three-pointer to make it 50-41.
Sophomore Amanda Byler had a field goal and made a pair of free throws in the fourth quarter for Eastlake.
Eastlake, which improved to 15-8, is the No. 3 seed.
Fourth-seeded San Dieguito Academy (14-6) upset top-seeded Our Lady of Peace Academy (16-5), 46-26, in the other semifinal on Wednesday.
