ROUNDUP: Monarchs adjust to beat Lancers

By Ramon Scott
Updated: December 29, 2017

Christian High during a time out on Friday in Rancho Mirage.

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

SAN DIEGO – Monte Vista got a first-half scare from one-win Hilltop, but give the Monarchs credit for not resting on their laurels as they defeated Hilltop, 70-57, on Friday at the 35th annual Montgomery Aztec Holiday Classic, improving their record to 12-3 overall.

Monte Vista wasn’t content on insisting it could just simply overpower the upstart Lancers and instead took a more respectful approach and defeated the Hilltop, 70-57, on Friday at the 35th annual Montgomery Aztec Holiday Classic, improving their record to 12-3 overall.

The Monarchs were down 36-31 at the half, but Monte Vista was proud of their adjustments as the Monarchs outscored the Lancers, 22-6, in the third.

DEONDRE MCHAYLE scored 21 points to lead the Monarchs.

McHayle scored nine points in the fourth quarter, including a three-pointer.

Monte Vista senior AMIR CONLEY added 14 points, including 10 in the second half.

The Monarchs JORDAN BRAMER had 12 points, including nine in the first half.

TOMMY GALLEGOS got Monte Vista off to a solid start with eight points in the opening quarter, including a pair of threes.

“We held them in the fourth,” Monte Vista coach MIKE TULLY said. “Hilltop played really hard. It was a good win for us.”

The Monarchs will face Calexico (4-10) on Saturday at 3 p.m.in another tournament tilt.

SERRA (Gardena) 53, CHRISTIAN 41 – At the MaxPreps Holiday Classic at Rancho Mirage High, JORDAN GAINES had 12 points and NASHOM CARTER added 10, but the Patriots fell to the Cavaliers despite an early lead.

Gaines hit an early three-pointer and the Patriots looked good early.

Carter had a steal and a layup as Christian extended the early advantage.

Christian jumped out to a 17-8 advantage after one period, then still led 24-20 at intermission.

DOMINIC SAFARTA had a nice stop-and-pop field goal that still had Christian up double digits early in the second.

After Serra looked like they were starting to rally, Christian moved into a 2-3 zone.

But the Cavs outscored the Pats, 20-6, in the third.

Serra took the lead with 4:36 left in the third. Serra led 37-30 with :38 seconds left in the third.

JACKSON LARSEN added eight points for the Patriots.

CHAPARRAL 60, HELIX 57 – At the Mt. Carmel Holiday Hoops Classic, Helix fell to Chaparral in a tight contest throughout.

How tight?

It was 15-all at the end of one and 30-all at halftime.

Six-foot-4 freshman KAI JESSIE ignited Helix in the second quarter with four field goals. He finished with a team-high 12 points.

MAURICE HOLMES and JAYLEN HINSON had 11 points each for Helix.

Hinson had a pair of three-pointers in the first quarter.

The Temecula-based Pumas then grabbed a slim two-point lead after three quarters.

“We missed a ton of free throws and just aren’t playing consistent,” Helix coach BRENNAN CASSADY said. “Chaparral came ready to play and we couldn’t match it.

Holmes scored eight points in the fourth quarter.

The Highlanders were 9-of-14 from the fourl line in the fourth.

Helix senior guard AMARI GREEN had five of his 10 points in the opening period.

Helix (8-5) will face Cerritos in the tournament on Saturday at 2 p.m.

GRANITE HILLS 62, ADELSON SCHOOL 60 — Senior forward MOSES SMITH scored 21 points to help the Eagles hold off the Lions at the Las Vegas Invitational on Friday.

Sophomore guard CKAY ROBERTS added 11 points, and senior guard AUSTIN BALLO scored 10 for Granite Hills, which carried a 52-40 lead into the fourth quarter.

Roberts had three three-pointers in the game, while Ballo had a pair of threes in the second half.

Senior forward XSAVIER SMITH and senior RAY CUERO both added eight points for the Eagles.

It was the second-consecutive win in as many days for the traveling Eagles.

MOUNT MIGUEL 56, POINT LOMA 46 – The Matadors won at home in the Aztec Holiday Classic game over the Pointers.

Mount Miguel improved to 13-1 and will face Eastlake (7-5) in an Aztec Holiday Classic semifinal game on Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m.

GROSSMONT 44, CHULA VISTA 39 – The Foothillers turned up the defensive heat on the Spartans, getting the low-scoring win in a tournament contest at the Chula Vista Spartan Classic

Grossmont improved to 7-7 overall.

The Foothillers will face Bonita Vista (12-3) on Saturday at 1:30 in another tournament game at the Spartan Classic.

BONITA VISTA 72, STEELE CANYON 57 – The Cougars dropped to the ranked Barons at the Chula Vista Spartan Holiday Classic.

Steele Canyon, which has dropped two straight after opening the season with six-consecutive wins has another Spartan Class ic game on Saturday.

LIBERTY CHARTER 58, MOUNTAIN EMPIRE 40 – The Lions got the best of the Red Hawks at the Braves Winter Tournament.

Senior GABE GRIMM led all scorers with 20 points for Liberty (3-4).

Sophomore JAMES ZUNIGA added 14 points for the Lions, while junior teammate ALEX FERRER added 12 points.

Junior KEVIN MEZA led Mountain Empire (2-7) with 14 points.

Liberty Charter faces Imperial (3-8) on Saturday at 3:30 in another tournament contest.

Mountain Empire will play at Borrego Springs on Jan. 5 at 6 p.m.