Foothillers shake off rust to win first game of new year

By Bill Dickens
Updated: January 13, 2016

2015-16 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

By Bill Dickens

© East County Sports.com

SPRING VALLEY (1-13-16) — The balanced offense of Grossmont High helped the visiting Foothillers (14-3) bowl over host Monte Vista (3-12) in Tuesday’s (Jan. 12) non-league contest 31-18.

None of the Foothillers scored in double digits in a game that didn’t seem to interest either team on the verge of the start of Grossmont Conference play on Friday (Jan. 15).

“Having not played a game since December 23rd was a factor tonight,” said Grossmont coach GRACE CAMPBELL. “It played a major factor in how we played tonight. We played really slow and sloppy.

“Monte Vista shot 24 free throws – lucky for us they only made 8. We start league Friday and we need to play better and step it up if we want to be a top contender in league.”

Grossmont has won four straight and five of its last six games.

KYRIA WHITLEY led Monte Vista was the only player in the game to produce double digits with 10 points to go along with 8 rebounds and 3 steals.

“We played good defense and held them,” said Monarchs coach MEGAN FORBELL. “However our rebounding was weak and despite getting the ball in down low repeatedly, we couldn’t make our shots count.”

Grossmont: Athena Sotelo 8 (4 reb, 2 ast, 3 stl), Symone Griffith 8 (2 reb, 4 stl), Emily Barnes 6 (8 reb, 1 stl, 2 blk), Taisha Silas 4 (2 reb), Lydia Halcott 3 (5 reb, 3 blk), Jasmine Lee 2 (3 reb).

Monte Vista: Kyria Whitley 10 (8 reb, 3 stl), Cassie Calderon 4 (8 reb, 1 stl), Cierra Ross 2 (7 reb, 4 stl), Dejah Moore 2 (2 reb), Sewit Tesfamicael (6 reb, 1 stl), Mariah Whitehead (2 reb, 2 stl), Bethany Mudge (1 reb), Marina Rankins (1 reb), Mariah Moore (1 reb).

GRANITE HILLS 49, SANTANA 16 – Granite Hills made it look easy in Tuesday’s (Jan. 12) non-league encounter with visiting Santana.

Defensively the Eagles claimed a 14-1 third quarter advantage to turn the game into a blowout.

Fact is, the Eagles did not allow the Sultans more than 6 points in any quarter as they cruised to the lop-sided victory.

RAELLEAH MOORE led the Eagles with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 7 steals, while MICAYELA HERNANDEZ posted 15 points.

“We weren’t really ready to play in the first half but we finally woke up,” said Granite Hills coach CURTIS NORWOOD. “Santana came out with a good game plan, but we made some adjustments and executed very well in the second half – cut down our turnovers below 10 tonight.

“I’m ecstatic,” he added. “That’s our goal every game – to commit 10 or fewer turnovers, every game. That’s something we can rally around.”

Granite Hills: Raelleah Moore 17 (5 reb, 1 ast, 7 stl), Micayela Hernandez 15 (3 reb, 2 ast, 4 stl), Anyang Agoth 6 (1 ast), Chase Robles 5 (2 reb, 4 stl), Delaney Casey 3 (1 reb, 4 stl), Myriam Lopez 2 (1 ast), Emma Kubari 1 (1 ast, 3 stl), Shanice Lacey (3 reb, 2 stl), Kani Kubari (2 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl).

Santana: (No report.)

WEST HILLS 51, EL CAJON VALLEY 14 – The visiting Wolf Pack streaked to a 29-5 halftime lead in Tuesday’s (Jan. 12) non-league contest to taint the new floor at El Cajon Valley.

It only got uglier as the Pack closed the game with an 11-0 fourth quarter stretch.

CARLY RALEY set the tone for West Hills (13-3) with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals, while KERRIE DANIELS popped in 10 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, made 3 steals and blocked a shot.

The name of the game for the Wolf Pack was “rebounds” – as they combined for 47 boards, anchored by MEGAN SCOTT’s 9.

West Hills: Carly Raley 13 (5 reb, 2 ast, 4 stl), Kerrie Daniels 10 (3 reb, 3 stl, 1 blk), Vivian Panela 9 (7 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl), Maya Clemons 6 (4 reb, 1 ast), Megan Scott 5 (9 reb, 4 ast, 4 stl), Jessica Fondes 4 (1 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl), Haley Doucette 2 (2 reb), Summer Stewart 2 (5 reb, 1 stl), Alyssa Garcia (6 reb), Clarrisa Holder (5 reb, 2 ast).

El Cajon Valley: (No report.)

Molly Lindsay of Valhalla is guarded by Helix Tuesday evening in La Mesa. / EastCountySports.com photo

HELIX 69, VALHALLA 25 – DANIELLE SIMMONS knocked down 21 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, made 2 steals and blocked a shot for the Highlanders as they knocked off visiting Valhalla Tuesday (Jan. 12) in a non-league contest.

CAMRYN OWENS was right behind her with 20 points, while KALIAH KING added 12 points.

The Highlanders hammered Valhalla 20-1 in the final quarter

It was the third straight win for Helix, and the third straight loss for the Norsemen.

“It was a good night tonight,” stated Helix coach PATRICK TABOR.

Helix: Danielle Simmons 21 (7 reb, 1 blk, 2 stl), Camryn Owens 20 (3 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl), Kaliah King 12 (1 blk, 1 stl), Taylor Garrett 8 (2 reb, 4 ast, 4 stl), Marina Smith 4 (2 reb),

Jazmyne Turner (4 reb, 1 blk, 2 stl), Janae White (1 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk).

Valhalla: (No report.)

CORONADO 45, CHRISTIAN 24 – MARISSA GILES landed 18 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and logged 8 steals for the visiting Christian Patriots in Tuesday’s (Jan. 12) Central League encounter, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

Her teammates could muster only 6 points, and those belonged to BROOKE OWENS, who also grabbed 5 rebounds and 2 steals as the Patriots fell to 3-8 overall, 0-3 in league.

Giles swished three 3-pointers and 7 of 11 free throws in the losing effort.

Christian: Marissa Giles 18 (8 reb, 8 stl), Brooke Owens 6 (5 reb, 2 stl), Hayley Robinson (3 reb), Jasmyn Crawford (3 reb), Wendy Shen (2 reb, 1 blk), Sage Salacup (1 reb, 2 stl), Alyssa Rothrock (1 reb).