Arizona’s Spartans one of few with edge on Foothillers

By Bill Dickens
Updated: December 24, 2015

2015-16 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com

ESCONDIDO (12-24-15/Updated 12-25-15) — If it weren’t for Arizona’s Leading Edge (12-0), Grossmont would be once beaten and the owner of two tournament championships.

As it was, however, the Spartans toppled the Foothillers for the second time in the tournament 53-35 in Wednesday afternoon’s (Dec. 23) Orange Glen Christmas Jamboree championship game.

Earlier in the tournament Leading Edge Academy crushed Grossmont 64-27.

“I’m so proud of my girls for their hard work and effort,” said Foothillers coach GRACE CAMPBELL. “We played very well against Arizona. To play composed and handle their full court pressure as well as we did. . . I’m extremely happy. LEA is an elite squad. They will be the toughest team we will face this season.

“If we can play the way we did against them the entire season, we will be in a good place.”

Grossmont: Athena Sotelo 11 (4 reb, 3 ast, 4 stl), Taisha Silas 10 (3 reb, 3 stl), Emily Barnes 8 (6 reb, 2 stl), Lydia Halcott 2 (9 reb, 3 blk, 2 stl), Noel Luzender 2.

GROSSMONT 40, EL CAJON VALLEY 28 (updated) – The Grossmont Foothillers proved that they’re pretty good early risers. That is, they led crosstown rival El Cajon Valley 11-0 after one quarter in the semifinals of Wednesday’s (Dec. 23) Orange Glen Christmas Jamboree that tipped off at 8 a.m. in Escondido.

That 11-point spread was mathematically the difference in the game.

TAISHA SILAS and ATHENA SOTELO each pitched in 10 points for the Foothillers (10-2).

For El Cajon Valley (7-1) LEANNA WATSON poured in 17 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and made 3 steals. She drilled in a pair of 3-pointers and 5 of 6 free throws.

CANDACE HENDERSON led the Braves on the boards by collecting 9 caroms, with SUMAYA HAMEED close behind with 8 grabs.

Grossmont: Taisha Silas 11 (5 reb, 4 stl), Athena Sotelo 10 (3 reb, 6 ast, 6 stl), Lydia Halcott 8 (7 reb, 4 blk, 5 stl), Candace Henderson 7 (9 reb, 1 stl), Lina McDuffie 2 (3 reb, 2 stl), Sabrina Johannes 2 (1 stl).

El Cajon Valley: Leanna Watson 17 (5 reb, 3 stl), Sumaya Hameed 5 (8 reb, 2 ast), Rabab Issa-Taba 2 (5 reb, 3 stl), Mary Awadich 2 (4 reb, 1 stl), Alejandra Garcia 2, Kaheen Hasan (3 reb), Titishia Clemons (3 stl).

EL CAJON VALLEY 35, CLAIREMONT 33 – LEANNA WATSON nailed 2 free throws with 20 seconds remaining to give El Cajon Valley a narrow victory over the Chieftains of Clairemont in Escondido in Wednesday’s (Dec. 23) Orange Glen Christmas Jamboree in a consolation game.

The 5-foot-7 sophomore finished with 18 points including 4 of 7 accuracy from 3-point range. She also had 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

“She’s a nice player with a good work habit,” said El Cajon Valley coach CARLOS MOSS.

“She’s more than just a quality basketball player, she was the No. 1 student academically in her class last year. You’re going to be hearing a lot about this girl in the future.”

El Cajon Valley: Leanna Watson 18 (6 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl), Titishia Clemons 8 (3 reb, 8 stl), Sumaya Hameed 7 (7 reb, 2 ast, 3 stl), Farah Kannan 2 (3 reb, 2 stl), Kaheen Hasan (5 reb, 2 stl), Mary Awadich (2 reb).

EL CAPITAN 50, SAN DIEGO ACADEMY 40 (updated) – MARIE COOK turned in an overpowering double-double of 39 points and 19 rebounds as the Vaqueros toppled San Diego Academy in Wednesday’s (Dec. 28) Orange Glen Christmas Jamboree contest.

The El Capitan junior nailed 16 of 23 free throws, one 3-pointer, and 10 buckets. She had a career high off the glass.

El Capitan: Marie Cook 39 (19 reb), Makenzi Kygar 4 (2 reb), Lynda Hicks 2 (3 reb), Taylor Fagan 3 (5 reb), Danielle Pimentel 2 (4 reb), Sarah Lohman 4.