Monarchs back in victory column
- Updated: May 25, 2021
Monte Vista junior Sami Gonzales
2021 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
MONTE VISTA 52, VICTORY CHRISTIAN 43
EastCountySports.com staff report
CHULA VISTA – The Monte Vista Monarchs wasted no time in shaking off a losing streak by defeating host Victory Christian Academy in a meeting of section title contenders on Monday.
The contest matched teams expected to be among the favorites in their respective divisions to win San Diego Section titles next month. The teams are rated very closely in the computer’s power ratings.
Monte Vista, which had lost five straight games, jumped out to a 20-11 lead after the first quarter and the margin remained relatively the same throughout.
Sami Gonzlaez scored 22 points, grabbed six rebounds, and had four assists for Monte Vista (14-8), which is currently second in the section’s Divison 4 power ratings.
“Our communication and out passes were there tonight,” Gonzalez said. “We were really trying to get rebounds against them and that’s what worked.”
Lina De Leon added 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Monarchs.
“We had a lot of energy and we were hitting our shots,” De Leon said. “I feel like this was our bounce-back game after what happened on Friday (a road loss at Santana). Before this game, everyone was locked in and we left everything on the court.”
Meadow Delino came home with nine points and five steals.
“Some players that were supposed to step up and fill the spot of (injured player) Micayaah (Flournoy) like Grace (Pitoau) did just that,” De Leon said.
Junior Salma Youngblood scored 17 points, including a three-pointer, and grabbed 15 rebounds, made four steals, and handed out seven assists for Victory Christian Academy.
Sophomore Jalyn Johnson added 13 points for VCA (9-5), which is the top-rated team currently in Division 5.
LIBERTY CHARTER 44, MOUNTAIN EMPIRE 26 – The Lions led 14-6 after the first quarter and 25-15 at halftime.
Sabrina Espelet led the Lions with 12 points, while teammate Katie Peet added 10 points Izzy Woodhams was next with eight points for Liberty.
The Lions improved to 13-7 overall. LCHS is rated fifth in Division 3 coming into the week.
