Girls hoops upsets for West Hills, El Cap

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: February 1, 2023

2022-23 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

ECS staff report

SANTEE – The West Hills High girls basketball team should easily advance to the CIF-San Diego Section Division III field, but to take an extended run though the tournament, they need to win in the finalweeks of the regular season to secure a higher seed and a hoe-court advantage.

Although the Wolf Pack needed to rally twice, they took the first step by defeating an opponent situated above them in the Grossmont Valley League standings.

On Tuesday (Jan. 31), Weest Hills overcame a disappointing 17-point scoring effort in the first half to take the lead, gave it all up, then closed the contest on an 8-0 run, enough to down visiting Valhalla, 45-38, att Dave Hunter Gymnasium.

Neither team seemed to able to score on the north end of the court, as West Hills shot just over 20 percent from the field in the opening two quarters. But when Valhalla started to do the same when the ballclub’s traded sides,,the contest tilted the other way.

Trailing at the half, 22-17, the Pack opened the second half on a 10-0 run over the a 4-minute span, with the advantage staying around vie well into the fourt period.

However, Valhalla, which is seeking to improve its own Division IV playoff prospects,

Down 37-32 with 4:43 remaining, the Norsemen tallied six straight points to reclaim the lead at 38-37, on a Rae Reyes basket, But they wouldn’t score again.

West Hills center Amber Froehlich answered with consecutive baskets from in the paint, the later while bring fouled for a 41-38 lead with 2:48 left. A minute later, Froehlich added a foul shot, then point guard Maepon Johnson drove to the basket for a layin, with Abby Zappia added foul shot foul shot to cinch the victory. All three are sophomores.

West Hills (11-11 overall, 2-5 GVL) again reached the .500 plateau as Froehlich scored a team-best 19 points..

Valhalla (11-12, 3-4 GVL) did not report its scoring.

El Capitan 58, Monte Vista 52

SPRING VALLEY – El Capitan ended its winless trek through the Grossmont Hills League with a road upset of defending CIF Division IV champion Monte Vista.

The balanced scoring attack of freshman Keira Heinricy (15 points) and junior Amaya Tone (13) led the way. Tthe Vaq Attack shot 48 percent from the floor by converting in the paint, overcoming a poor outing from the 3-point line.

Also for El Capitan (15-10 overall, 1-4 GHL), Amaya Tone led in steals (4), Emily Sample was tops in assists (4), and Lilly Williams controlled the boards with 10 rebounds.

Monte Vista (14-9, 1-5 GHL) received 21 points from Angelina De Leon, the league’s scoring leader (20.7 ppg).

Granite Hills 43, Steele Canyon 20

EL CAJON — Granite Hills all-but-mathematically clinched the Grossmont Valley League title after stopping second-stading Steele Canyon. The Eagles (7-0 GHL) now owns a 2-game lead with three contest remaining, all against the bottom schools in the league.

Neither school reported stats or game information – and one of the teams won!

Helix 48, Grossmont 42

LA MESA – In its first outing since dropping a first-place showdown against Mount Miguel, the Grossmont Foothillers were tagged by neighborhood rival Helix, which moved above the Hillers into second place following Tuesday’s (Jan. 31) Grossmont Hills League triumph at Caledonia Gymnasium

The Scotties (16-overall, 4-2 GHL) raced to a27-20 halftime lead, withstood a Grossmont rally in the third, then pulled away again in the fourth to gain a season split with their ancient rivals.

It was also the final time a pair of Helix seniors would face Grossmont, and they took advantage as Alethze Marquez (18 points) and Angel Riggins (10) led the ballclub in point production.

However, the diference came on defense, as all five Helix starters registered two or more steals.

Angel Riggins and Jordan Lindsey each recorded five assists, while Riggins also grabbed 14 rebounds — 10 on the offensive boards ,which also slowed Grossmont’s transition game.

Grossmont (13-5, 3-3 GHL) failed to report.

Patrick Henry 62, Coronado 17

CORONADO – In a City Conference mis-match, visiting Patrick Henry yielded just a single bucket in each of the first two periods to mount a 29-4 cushion into the break, vanquishing the Coronado Islanders, 62-17, on Tuesday (Jan.31). The contest was held at the the Blumenthal Sports Complex gymnasium on the isthmus of Coronado — technically, it’s not an island’ the landmass is connected to the mailand by the Silver Strand, where the school plays its baseball games.

Patriiots junior Joci Martin tallied 16 points, almost single-handily out-scoring the Wahine, while senior Chancis Allen added 12 points.

Patrick Henry (13-12 overall, 6-1 league) remais tied for first place with University City in the City League. The ballclubs meet next Tuesday at Henry to determine the championship.

Coronado fell to 1-18 (0-7 league).

Our Lady of Peace 56, Christian 34

CITY HEIGHTS – Senior guard Naomi Henderson registered a steal for a breakaway basket for a 7-0 lead moments into Tuesday’s (Jan.31) Western League ballgame, leading Our Lady of Peace over visiting Christian, 56-34,

The Pilots (17-7 overall,4-2 league) will next play a nonleague contest with Santa Fe Christian, who are now coached by former Christian head coach Vickie Carrington.

The Patriots, which fell to 9-10 (1-5 league), failed to report

Santana 53, ECVHS 45

This contest also wasn’t reported – and one of the teams won!

Tuesday’s Scoreboard

STANDINGS – GHL: Mount Miguel 5-0, Helix 4-2, Grossmont 3-3, El Capitan 1-4, Monte Vista 1-5. GVL Granite 7-0, Steele 5-2, ECVHS 3-4, Valhalla 3-4, est Hills 2-5, Santana 1-6.

West Hills 45, Valhalla 38
Santana 53, ECVHS 45
Granite Hills 43, Steele Canyon 20
Helix 48, Grossmont 42
El Capitan 58, Monte Vista 52

Patrick Henry 62, Coronado 17
Our Lady of Peace 56, Christian 34

Torrey Pines 74, Ramona 43
Warner 25, Borrego Springs 19
Mountain Empire at SD Health Sciences, Park de la Cruz gym 92105, no report
Julian at Calexico Mission, ccd.