ROUNDUP: El Cap on top of Valley; Smith sets Matador mark

By Bill Dickens
Updated: January 25, 2017

Grossmont's ATHENA SOTELO is guarded by El Capitan's STEPHANIE ADAMS (14) Tuesday night in Lakeside. / photo by Ramon Scott

2016-17 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com

LAKESIDE (1-25-17) — The El Capitan Vaqueros proved that they’re the real deal as they upset Grossmont, 36-34, in a key Grossmont Valley League contest on Tuesday (Jan. 24).

Freshman STEPHANIE ADAMS anchored the El Capitan assault with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 8 blocks and 2 steals.

El Capitan’s MARIE COOK (21) reaches for the ball along with Grossmont’s ATHENA SOTELO Tuesday evening. / photo by Ramon Scott

MARIE COOK pitched in with 10 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.

Freshman JORDAN GRANDY had another stellar night with 12 points, including a trio of treys, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.

“It was a tough game,” said Vaqueros coach DARIN CURTIS. “Grossmont has been on our calendar for a long time. They are a real challenge. Everyone worked hard and had to do their job tonight.

“The leadership of senior MARIE COOK and the heart of senior DANNI PIMENTEL are the backbone of our team. While our freshmen guards – JORDAN GRANDY and DEVON BULLOCK – really stepped up their game. McKENZI KYGAR came in and added a needed spark off the bench.

“The presence of freshman Stephanie Adams on the court is a real game changer. She is averaging a triple-double for the season and she came through big again tonight.

“I couldn’t be more proud of everyone’s effort,” Curtis said.

“Even our girls on the sideline were there in support,” Curtis added. “Senior MELISSA REYES was out with the flu and when 6-foot senior GRACE BURKETT comes back after her broken hand we will be back at full strength.”

For Grossmont, which was also saddled with players playing with the flu, TAISHA SILAS led the charge with 14 points and 6 rebounds, while ATHLENA SOTELO added 7 points.

“Everyone on our team, including myself, are sick right now,” said Foothillers coach GRACE CAMPBELL. “We’ll see them again.”

El Capitan: Stephanie Adams 14 (9 reb, 8 blk, 2 stl), Jordan Grandy 12 (5 reb, 3 stl), Marie Cook 10 (9 reb, 5 ast), McKenzi Kygar 1 (1 ast).

Grossmont: Taisha Silas 14 (6 reb), Athena Sotelo 7 (2 reb), Emily Barnes 5 (7 reb), Jasmine Lee 2 (4 reb), Candace Henderson 2, Tyana Warsaw 2 (3 reb, 1 blk).

EL CAJON VALLEY 59, VALHALLA 36 – LEANNA WATSON poured in 34 points, dished 11 assists, logged 7 rebounds and recorded 13 steals in the Braves’ victory over Valhalla in Tuesday’s (Jan. 24) Grossmont Valley League encounter.

SUMAYA HAMEED tossed in 20 points and made 13 rebounds for El Cajon Valley, while LILLIAN AKINTENDE grabbed 10 rebounds in the victory.

“Valhalla played hard, they never gave up,” said Braves coach CARLOS MOSS. “After losing to El Capitan it was nice to see our girls show some character. Leanna Watson and RANIA NOORI played strong and showed leadership. Sumaya Hameed played well.”

El Cajon Valley: Leanna Watson 34 (7 reb, 11 ast, 13 stl), Sumaya Hameed 20 (13 reb, 4 stl), Lillian Akintende 3 (10 reb, 2 stl), Vean Gorgees 2 (3 reb, 2 stl), Rania Noori (3 reb, 6 stl), Keariel Brewer (1 reb).

Valhalla: No report.

MOUNT MIGUEL 68, HELIX 42 – The Mount Miguel Matadors made it look easy as SATERA BATES hammered in 29 points to stake the Matadors to a 29-4 first quarter lead in Tuesday’s (Jan. 24) big Grossmont Hills League encounter in La Mesa.

The Matadors led across the board.

LAILA SMITH set a Mount Miguel school record with 17 assists, breaking the mark set by CHRISTINE FITZGERALD, sister of Matadors coach ROBBIE SANDOVAL.

CAMARA DOUGLAS pitched in 14 points and grabbed 9 rebounds for the Matadors.

For Helix, DANIELLE SIMMONS led the Highlanders with 17 points.

NOTE: Mount Miguel trailed Harvard-Westlake 33-22 at the half, instead of 44-22 as was reported for Saturday’s (Jan. 21) game. We regret the error.

Mount Miguel: Satera Bates 29 (2 reb, 1 blk, 2 stl), Camara Douglas 14 (9 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk), Laila Smith 7 (4 reb, 17 ast, 2 stl), Nyssa Maga 7 (1 reb), Michelle Corley 3 (4 reb), Tiaja Bennett 6 (t reb, 1 stl, 1 blk), Deyonna McBride 2 (4 ast, 5 stl), Nya Maga (2 reb).

Helix: Danielle Simmons 17, Janae White 8, Camryn Owens 5, Olivia Missouria 4, Mariyah Howard 2, Diamond Whitley 2, Melat Ezana 2, Marina Smith 1, Taliah Hooker 1.

GRANITE HILLS 36, STEELE CANYON 32 – CHASE ROBLES led Granite Hills with 14 points in Tuesday’s (Jan. 24) Grossmont Hills League game, won by the Eagles over Steele Canyon.

“I talked with (Granite Hills) coach CURTIS NORWOOD before the game and we recognize that we’re both in a rebuilding mode,” said Cougars coach PETER RUIZ.

REAGAN JORDAN paced the Cougars with 10 points, while MAKAYLA McCARTHY and MARIANNA MARTINEZ added 6 apiece.

Granite Hills: Chase Robles 14, Shanice Lacy 8, Shelby Ripberger 7, Kani Kubari 6, Anyang Agoth 2.

Steele Canyon: Reagan Jordan 10 (2 reb, 2 ast), Makayla McCarthy 6 (3 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), Marianna Martinez 6 (1 reb, 1 ast), Mya Cross 3, Elizabeth Bott 2 (4 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl), Tayanna Mason 1, Kortni Fahie (2 ast, 1 stl).

CHRISTIAN 54, CRAWFORD 27 – MARISSA GILES, playing with the flu, punched in 26 points to go along with 5 steals as Christian clipped Crawford 54-27 in Central League play on Tuesday (Jan. 24).

JASMYN CRAWFORD added 12 points for the Patriots, while HAYLEY ROBINSON made 5 rebounds.

“It was good to be able to put up some good points tonight,” said Patriots coach TIFFANY GILES. “Everybody got in the game tonight, so it was good.”

Christian: Marissa Giles 26 (1 reg, 5 stl), Jasmyn Crawford 12 (2 ast, 2 stl), Brooke Owens 7 (4 reb, 1 stl), Suzy Webster 3 (1 reb, 2 ast), Hayley Robinson 2 (5 reb), Lisette Duarte 2, Cipriana Hudson 1 (1 reb, 2 blk), Taylor Giese (2 reb), Alyssa Rothrock 1 (2 reb), Bianca Holloway (2 reb).

WEST HILLS 42, SANTANA 35 – MAYA CLEMONS and KERRIE DANIELS each scored 11 points to lead West Hills past Santana in Tuesday’s (Jan. 24) non-league contest.

“I am very disappointed with our effort and execution tonight,” said Wolf Pack coach RYAN KINSER. “Santana out-worked us and wanted it more.

“We had a ton of good looks offensively but shot poorly from the field (14-48). Defensively we played with no energy and gave up way too many rebounds.”
West Hills led 25-15 at the half .

The West Hills at Steele Canyon game, postponed from Jan. 20, has been rescheduled for Wednesday (Feb. 1) at 5 p.m. There will be a double-header with the girls’ and the boys’ games that night at Cougar Canyon.

West Hills: Maya Clemons 11, Kerrie Daniels 11, Vivian Panela 8, Helena Keohane 5, Jessica Fondas-Ryan 3, Carly Raley 2, Caitlyn Stayner 2.

Santana: No report.

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