Cougars march into New Year with tournament wins

By ECS Staff
Updated: January 2, 2016

Steele Canyon's Marie Estavillo (14) and Jules Loibl (4) defend against Monte Vista's Sewit Tesfamicael during the night cap of the New Year's Ball tournament Friday night. / photo by Ramon Scott

2015-16 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

By Chris Davis
© East County Sports.com
RANCHO SAN DIEGO (1-2-16) — When one thinks of a busy day on the first day of the year, they may think of taking down the Christmas tree that might still be up. Watching the 128th Annual Rose Parade and watching three to four football bowl games.

Yeah, the Lady Cougars of Steele Canyon didn’t do any of that. Instead they warmed up for three games but only played two.

Monte Vista’s Bethany Mudge goes for a steal against Steele Canyon’s Mariana Martinez on Friday night. / photo by Ramon Scott

They warmed up to face Gompers Prep Academy at 10:00 this morning. Gompers never showed, so credit the Cougars with a win without even having to work up a big sweat.

Then at 1:30 the Cougars looked to defend their gym against O’Farrell (1-5). The Cougars (7-3) were led by ASHLEY TAVIZON with her 12 points. Also helping out was JULES LOIBL and MYA CROSS who each chipped in eight points.

Then in the nightcap of the day, the Cougars faced off against their neighbors Monte Vista.

The Monarchs (1-9) were coming off their first win of the season as they defeated O’Farrell by a 40-19 score. In that game, CIERRA ROSS and SEWIT TESFAMICAEL each chipped in with 10 points each. CASSIE CALDERON also had eight points.

Then the neighbors faced each other in a preview of next week’s league game at Monte Vista. Well, both teams have something to work on before then.

Steele Canyon won the game between the two schools that are in neighboring zip codes by a 42-25 final score.

The Cougars got out of the gate quickly as Loibl had eight of her game-high 17 points in the first quarter. Calderon countered as well as she could with four of her team-high 12 points. The Cougars came out with a suffocating half court press that the Monarchs just could not figure out how to deal with.

Monte Vista’s Cassie Calderon throws an outlet pass Friday night against Steele Canyon. / photo by Ramon Scott

“We got flustered with the on ball pressure,” Monarchs coach MEGAN FORBELL said after the contest. “When we get flustered we don’t run our plays and we throw the ball away. We are looking forward to getting two wins (today) and head into conference with a few wins behind us.”

The second quarter wasn’t much better for the Monarchs as Steele Canyon kept up the pressure and ended up pulling ahead for a 10-point lead at intermission.

In the third quarter, both teams flexed their defensive muscles. Steele Canyon limited the Monarchs to single digits in all four quarters, with a low in the third with a lone two-point basket. Monte Vista held the Cougars to ten points.

The Monarchs did outscore the Cougars in the final frame by a 9-8 count.

“It was a good battle,” Cougars coach PETER RUIZ stated after the game. “With us seeing them in a week at their house, it was good to see where we are against them. What adjustments we can make before the contest that really matters.”

“I was proud of the girls. They had a game in the morning, in the afternoon and the last game at night and there wasn’t that much of a drop-off. We will see who we face in the finals tomorrow.”

Monte Vista (vs. O’Farrell): Cierra Ross 10 (3 reb), Sewit Tesfamicael 10 (9 reb, 6 stl, 2 ast), Cassie Calderon 8 (8 reb, 4 stl, 1 ast, 1 blk), Mariah Whitehead 7 (2 reb, 2 stl), Dejah Moore 4 (8 reb, 3 stl, 1 ast), Mariah Moore 1 (3 reb), Marina Rankins (3 reb, 1 stl, 1 ast), Torrie Honorè (2 ast).

Monte Vista (vs. Steele Canyon): Cassie Calderon 12 (9 reb, 2 stl), Mariah Whitehead 5 (5 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk), Dejah Moore 4 (8 reb, 1 stl, 1 ast), Cierra Ross 2 (3 reb, 1 stl, 1 ast), Sewit Tesfamicael 2 (2 reb, 1 stl, 2 ast), Mariah Moore (4 reb), Bethany Mudge (1 reb, 1 ast).

Steele Canyon (vs. O’Farrell): Ashley Tavizon 12 (1 reb, 4 stl, 2 ast), Mya Cross 8 (3 reb, 1 stl, 1 ast), Jules Loibl 8 (3 stl, 1 ast), Kortni Fahie 6 (2 reb, 2 stl, 1 ast), Kylie Minshew 6 (5 reb), Bliss Montemayor 4, Reagan Jordan 4 (5 reb, 1 stl, 1 ast), Marie Estavillo 2 (2 stl), Marianna Martinez 2 (4 reb, 1 stl, 2 ast), Elizabeth Bott (2 reb, 1 stl, 1 ast).

Steele Canyon (vs. Monte Vista): Jules Loibl 17 (3 reb, 3 stl, 1 ast), Mya Cross 5 (6 reb, 3 stl, 1 ast), Kortni Fahie 5 (2 stl), Elizabth Bott 4 (1 reb, 1 stl, 1 ast), Ashley Tavizon 3 (4 reb, 3 stl), Reagan Jordan 3 (4 reb, 3 stl), Kylie Minshew 2 (2 reb, 1 stl), Marie Estavillo 1 (1 stl), Marianna Martinez (2 stl, 1 ast).