Wolf Pack turn away Highlanders’ challenge

By ECS Staff
Updated: January 30, 2016

2015-16 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

By Chris Davis
© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (1-30-16) — West Hills and Helix are pretty much polar opposites as far as records are concerned. West Hills entered Friday’s (Jan. 29) Grossmont Hills League contest with a 15-5 record. Helix entered the contest in Santee with a 4-11 record. With such a difference in records, one might expect a blowout in the Wolf Packs’ favor.

Well, as the saying goes, “That is why they play the games.”

The game came down to the final 108 seconds and the Wolf Pack (16-5, 2-1 GHL) did win, but not as easily as the records might indicate. The final score was 50-48 Wolf Pack.

A pair of West Hills students scored in double figures in the contest that saw both teams win multiple quarters. MEGAN SCOTT had the team-high with 12 points, while KERRIE DANIELS had 10 points and as Grossmont College women’s basketball head coach, KAREN CAIRES would say “was the chairwoman of the boards” with eight.

TALIAH HOOKER and TAYLOR GARRETT were both in double figures for Helix (4-12, 1-1 GHL) with 14 (game-high) and 11 respectively. CAM OWENS had a game-high 14 rebounds on the night.

West Hills jumped out and took an 18-12 lead after the first quarter. VIVIAN PANELA led the way for the Wolf Pack as she had six points in the opening quarter. Garrett, JANAE WHITE and DANIELLE SIMMONS each had four points to help the Highlander cause.

The second quarter went to Helix as they outscored West Hills 14-9. Hooker led the charge with a pair of threes. The Black and Blue were very balanced as four players scored with Daniels having a high of three. At the break, West Hills was ahead by a 27-26 score.

The third quarter saw West Hills extend their lead to five with a 12-8 quarter for a 39-34 score.

Coming down the stretch it got close and stayed that way.

With three minutes remaining in the contest, the score was tied at 45. Hooker hit a three to break the tie. Just 20 seconds later West Hills’ MEGAN SCOTT was fouled while making a layup. When she sank the free throw, the game was tied again with two and a half minutes remaining.

With both teams failing to make baskets that could have given them the lead, CARLY RALEY finally had had enough. She was fouled while making a shot with 1:48 to go. She missed the free throw that would have given the Wolf Pack more of a cushion. It didn’t matter as neither team really had a good shot the remaining 100-plus seconds of the game.

The Wolf Pack will host Monte Vista on Tuesday (Feb. 2), while Helix will host Mount Miguel. Both games have a scheduled tip-off of 6:00 p.m.

West Hills: Megan Scott 12 (7 reb, 2 ast), Kerrie Daniels 10 (8 reb, 1 stl, 1 ast), Vivian Panela 8 (4 reb, 3 ast), Maya Clemons 7 (4 reb, 1 ast), Carly Raley 6 (1 reb, 2 stl, 1 ast), Jessica Fondes-Ryan 3 (4 reb, 2 stl, 1 ast), Alyssa Garcia 2 (1 reb, 1 stl), Haley Doucette 2 (1 ast), Summer Stewart (2 reb), Rissa Holder (1 reb).

Helix: Taliah Hooker 14 (1 stl), Taylor Garrett 11 (4 reb, 2 stl, 1 ast, 1 blk), Janae White 8 (5 reb), Cam Owens 5 (14 reb, 1 stl, 3 ast), Danielle Simmons 4 (5 reb, 1 stl), Kaliah King 4 (4 reb, 2 stl), Olivia Missouri 2, Jazyme Turner 0, Marina Smith 0.

SANTANA 36, EL CAPITAN 19 – In a Grossmont Valley league contest Friday night (Jan. 29) the host El Capitan Vaqueros ran into a buzzsaw named Santana as they dropped the contest 36-19.

The Sultans led from start to finish including stifling the Vaqueros in the second quarter via shutout as they outscored them 19-4 to lead at the break.

The Vaqueros tried to get back into the contest as MARIE COOK was able to punch in 12 points and also pulled down 7 rebounds. However the Sultans were able to clamp down on the rest of the Vaquero offense.

El Capitan: Marie Cook 12 (7 reb, 1 ast, 3 stl), Taylor Fagan 5 (1 reb, 1 ast), Makenzi Kygar 2 (1 reb, 3 stl), Danielle Pimentel (3 reb, 3 ast, 4 stl), Zanndra Ragole (4 reb, 3 stl), Sarah Lohman (2 reb, 1 stl), Lynda Hicks (1 reb).

— Adam Paul

POINT LOMA 49, CHRISTIAN 28 – The Patriots could not generate enough firepower to subdue league opponent Point Loma in Friday’s (Jan. 29) Central League contest.

“The Pointers were taller across the board than we were,” said Patriots coach TIFFANY GILES. “We’re not in position to focus on one player because we don’t have that one player.”

MARISSA GILES led the Patriots with 13 points and 5 rebounds, while BROOKE OWENS added 10 markers and grabbed 6 boards.

Christian: Marissa Giles 13 (5 reb, 1 ast, 1 bl, 2 stl), Brooke Owens 10 (6 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk), Jasmyn Crawford 3 (3 reb, 3 stl), Sage Salacup 2 (2 reb), Alyssa Rothrock (6 reb, 1 stl), Hayley Robinson (4 reb, 1 blk, 4 stl), Wendy Shen (1 ast, 1 stl).

— Bill Dickens

VALHALLA 40, EL CAJON VALLEY 37 – Recalling the events near the end of the non-league game, Braves coach CARLOS MOSS reported that Valhalla was at the free throw line and missed a shot but got the rebound and scored to go up by one point. El Cajon Valley fouled and Valhalla’s TIANA SILVER made two free throws to win it.

Sophomore LEANNA WATSON churned out 26 points for the Braves, including hitting 6 of 9 from 3-point distance. Watson also had 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.

SUMAYA HAMEED added 6 points and a team-best 12 rebounds and 4 steals.

“We missed 15 free throws,” said Moss. “We’re playing better defense. El Cajon Valley (11-10) hasn’t won 11 games in many years.”

El Cajon Valley: Leanna Watson 26 (4 reb, 4 ast, 4 stl), Sumaya Hameed 6 (12 reb, 4 stl), Titishia Clemons 4 (7 reb, 2 stl), Farah Kannan 1 (4 reb), Kaheen Hasan (4 reb, 1 stl), Mary Awadich (2 reb, 1 stl).