Sako hangs holiday lights in Valhalla tournament win

By ECS Staff
Updated: December 29, 2015

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By Bill Dickens
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SAN DIEGO (12-29-15) — Senior MATTHEW SAKO lit up the lights with a triple-double in Valhalla’s 63-49 romp over Point Loma in Monday’s (Dec. 28) Montgomery Holiday Classic.

The 5-foot-11 guard punched in 12 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and handed out 10 scoring passes to help the Norsemen (6-3) dominate.

JORDAN ELLIS contributed 21 points, including 3 triples, while JOHN MURAD nailed 4 of 7 shots from above the arc to finish with 20 points.

The surprising note in this game is COLE HENDERSON was limited to 2 points on 1-for-7 shooting, although he did gather 10 rebounds.

“They played a box-and-one on Henderson all night,” said Valhalla assistant coach DON ROLLINS. “It was effective in stopping him but that opened the doors for the majority of our players.

“It was frustrating for Cole but he understood the strategy.”

“Another thing that was really noticeable was we were really aggressive on the boards,” Rollins added of the Norsemen who collected 36 caroms on the night.”

Valhalla: Jordan Ellis 21 (6 reb, 4 ast, 4 stl), John Murad 20 (6 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl), Matthew Sako 12 (12 reb, 10 ast, 1 blk), Trey Schimke 5 (6 reb, 1 stl), Nathan Yousif 3 (4 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl), Cole Henderson 2 (10 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk), Kai Komaki (4 reb, 1 stl).

GRANITE HILLS 50, PAHRAPAGAT VALLEY 27 – A 15-0 second quarter spread helped Granite Hills balance its season record at 5-5 with a victory over Pahrapagat Valley of Alamo, Nev. in Monday’s (Dec. 28) Las Vegas Invitational.

DAVID SETTERBERG set the pace for the Eagles with 15 points, including 4-for-4 free throw shooting.

CAMERON SPITZER added 10 points, and RYAN KELLY AND JACOB BURTON each hauled down 10 rebounds.

“We controlled the ball well, thanks to the play of Spitzer and JORDEN ROGERS,” said Eagles assistant coach DAN DUFFY.

Granite Hills: David Setterberg 15 (6 reb, 2 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk), Cameron Spitzer 10 (2 reb, 2 stl), Ryan Kelly 7 (10 reb, 2 ast), Dylan Garcia 7 (5 reb), Jorden Rogers 4 (1 ast, 2 stl), Jacob Burton 4 (10 reb, 1 ast), Darien Cossio 3 (3 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk), Aaron Cobb (1 blk).

EL CAPITAN 61, EC-SOUTHWEST 39 – DONALD IRVIN blistered the court for 29 points including 6 three-pointers and 7 of 7 free throws as the Vaqueros clipped El Centro Southwest in Monday’s (Dec. 28) Montgomery Holiday Classic.

KADE KYGAR buried a trio of 3-pointers on his way to a 19 points finish.

DOMINIC IUDICIANI wrestled 16 balls off the glass.

“We still have room for improvement,” said El Capitan coach FRANK QUINONES. “We had a nice 1-2 punch. Irvin scored 22 of his 29 points in the first half, and Kygar scored 16 of his 19 in the second half. I’d hate to be the team that sees those guys hot on the same night.

“Iudiciani is not flashy but he has the knack of getting rebounds and involving himself in almost every play.”

El Capitan: Donald Irvin 29 (7 reb, 2 ast), Kade Kygar 19 (6 reb, 5 ast), Ren Neuhoff 7 (2 reb, 2 stl), Dominic Iudiciani 5 (16 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk), Devin Dulay 1 (1 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl), Danny Estrada (8 reb), Colton Sandoval (1 reb), Zac Quintero (1 reb).

GROSSMONT 69, BONITA VISTA 59 – High scoring giant TOMMY RUTHERFORD was at his best again as he drove in 32 points, grabbed 23 rebounds, blocked 5 shots, dished 5 assists and collected 4 steals as the Foohillers submarined Bonita Vista in Monday’s (Dec. 28) Spartan Classic at Chula Vista.

Rutherford was 14 for 18 from the free throw line.

Grossmont (10-3) took a 39-20 half time lead and never looked back.

Grossmont: Tommy Rutherford 32 (23 reb, 5 ast, 4 stl, 5 blk), Marquise Purnell 9 (6 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), Branik Brown 8 (2 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), Jacob Niskey 6 (3 reb), Matt Murray 4 (1 reb, 1 stl), Hunter Gaines 5 (3 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl), Jeremiah Appleton 2 (3 ast, 1 stl), Dayveion Crawford 3.

HELIX 57, PERRIS 49 – JUSTIN FLISHER spun a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Highlanders evened their record at 6-6 by toppling Riverside Perris in Monday’s (Dec. 28) Mt. Carmel Holiday Hoops Classic.

Flisher was 7 for 9 from the field.

ISAIAH WOODEN pitched in with 13 points, while JAYLEN ARNOLD grabbed 10 boards.

No question Helix is developing excellent depth.

Helix: Justin Flisher 15 (10 reb, 4 ast, 4 stl), Isaiah Wooden 13 (5 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk), Malik Tambwe 8 (5 reb, 2 stl, 4 blk), Jaylen Arnold 6 (10 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 6 blk), Dylan Lee 6 (4 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk), Jamar Wynn 5 (1 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk,) Amari Green 4 (8 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk).

VINCENT MEMORIAL 64, MONTE VISTA 60 – The struggling Monte Vista Monarchs (2-10) had Calexico’s Vincent Memorial on the ropes but couldn’t pull the trigger in Monday’s (Dec. 28) Montgomery Holiday Classic game.

SHAI STEVENSON turned in a powerful double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds to go along with 5 assists and 3 steals.

DEONDRE McHAYLE continued his rehab with 16 points, including a pair of threes.

TRE OWENS contributed 10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.

BO RANKINS added 18 rebounds to control the boards.

“The difference between us and them was they came into the game with a sense of energy,” said Monarchs coach MIKE TULLY. “That’s something we don’t have – I don’t know why but I think it’s something involving maturity.”

The loss was 8 straight for Monte Vista.

Monte Vista: Shai Stevenson 22 (13 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl), Deondre McHayle 16 (3 reb, 1 ast), Tre Owens 10 (6 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl), Bo Rankins 7 (18 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl), Adrian Bass 3 (2 reb, 1 ast).

RANCHO BERNARDO 63, STEELE CANYON 57 – GAGE SANDERS nailed four 3-pointers and finished with 20 points in Monday’s (Dec. 28) Mt. Carmel Holiday Hoops Classic.

MARCUS WHITE pitched in 10 points for the Cougars.

“Rancho Bernardo is a Top 10 team, they couldn’t miss in the first quarter,” commented Cougars coach DEREK STEPHENS. “Our defense played pretty well. In the second half we tied it. We got some open looks but we couldn’t get over the hump again.”

Stephens stated, “It’s nice to see us fight, fight, fight and not give up. We need to cut down on the turnovers and play a little better offense.”

“With less than 30 seconds left it was a 3 point game,” Stephens noted.

Steele Canyon: Gage Sanders 20, Marcus White 10, Nick Hodge 9, Tyler Smith 9, Thomas Fishburne 7, Kyree Woods 6.

CALIFORNIA 54, MOUNT MIGUEL 46 – The Grizzlies from San Ramon clawed their way past host Mount Miguel in Monday’s (Dec. 28) Montgomery Holiday Classic encounter.

It was a typical game for DARIAN NORWOOD who delivered a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds.

But what intrigued Mount Miguel coach JAY ROWLETT was the sure-handed defense displayed by his Matadors.

“This is the best defense we’ve played all year,” he said. “If we can do this the rest of the year we’ll be able to challenge for our league championship.”

Mount Miguel: Darian Norwood 16 (12 reb, 1 ast, 3 stl), Taj Tucker 9 (2 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl), Trevon Allen 6 (7 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl), Trannell Hudson 7 (2 reb, 3 stl), Chris Thompson 5 (2 stl), Marquis Neal 3 (4 stl), Raymond Lucas (1 reb), Justice Chima (1 reb).