Parsons’ project to lead Pack playoff run

By ECS Staff
Updated: February 25, 2016

BRYCE PARSONS battles for a rebound Wednesday night against Bishop's. / photo by Ramon Scott

2015-16 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

By James McHugh
© East County Sports.com

SANTEE (2-24-16) – The last time the West Hills Wolf Pack ran into Bishop’s they found themselves trailing a drudgingly slow-paced game 32-17 heading into the final quarter. The Pack righted the ship in the fourth quarter and came out with the win, but West Hills got a taste of the Knights’ slow-paced game plan.

This time around West Hills decided to put things to rest early on, defeating Bishop’s 64-53 in the first round of the Division II San Diego Section CIF playoffs.

About five minutes in, it looked like West Hills was falling into the Knights’ trap once again, leading just 9-8 in a slower than molasses offensive struggle. Coach JEFF ARMSTRONG’s club did one thing a whole lot of things better in this rematch however, putting the ball in the basket.

“You know the biggest difference tonight from two weeks ago was really just that we shot the ball well (.44 percent – 24 of 54). Two weeks ago when we faced these guys we didn’t shoot well at all,” Armstrong said after the win.

West Hills senior BRYCE PARSONS echoed his coach’s sentiments. “Last time we played these guys we weren’t hitting anything. That was the biggest thing tonight, our shooters were hitting. We were attacking a lot tonight too which we didn’t do last time,” Parsons said of his team’s more balanced effort against the Knights on Wednesday night (Feb. 24).

Parsons led all scorers with 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for good measure, also a game high. The Wolf Pack wasn’t singularly dependent on Parsons on the offensive end though.

MARQUELL COOL knocked down two straight three balls to open the second quarter and expand the Wolf Pack’s lead from six to ten points. CAM BARRY chipped in a couple of three pointers and MARCO OVIES contributed 11 points in the win, most of those coming in an explosive third quarter that ballooned the West Hills’ lead to 20-points.

In the fourth quarter Bishop’s managed 31 points, nine more than they managed through the first three quarters (22), but it was too little too late. “We got a great effort from our bench tonight, we didn’t allow a lot of offensive rebounds and we limited their threes until that last few minutes,” Parsons said of the Pack’s effort.

Coach Armstrong was pleased with the balanced attack he saw all night, “Cam had a few good shots in there, then it was Bryce, then it was Marquell then it was KYLE RUIZ. We got great stretches from a lot of different guys tonight.”

Those great stretches mean that the Wolf Pack is moving on to face No. 9 seeded Patrick Henry, which upset San Ysidro 64-58 on Wednesday night. The Pack will host the Patriots Saturday night (Feb. 27) at 7 at West Hills High School.

West Hills: Bryce Parsons 21 (11 reb, 1 blk, 1 stl), Marco Ovies 11 (3 ast, 3 stl, 2 reb), Marquell Cool 9 (1 reb), Spencer Moyer 8 (2 reb), Cam Barry 6 (5 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl), Kyle Ruiz 5 (5 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl), Cesar Curet 2 (3 reb, 2 ast), Nathan Ball 2, Scott Wheeler (1 ast), Miguel Nava (1 stl), Chris Moyer (1 reb).