Cougars bury Eagles with early barrage

By Ramon Scott
Updated: February 10, 2018

Steele Canyon's THOMAS FISHBURNE reaches for the ball as Granite Hills' MOSES SMITH controls on Friday night. / photo by Ramon Scott

Granite Hills and Steele Canyon battle for a rebound on Friday. / EastCountySports.com photo

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

EL CAJON – The Steele Canyon Cougars continued their late-season roll by winning their fourth-straight game Friday night, knocking off fellow Grossmont Hills League title challenger Granite Hills, 77-55, in a crucial contest for the championship chase.

The Cougars remained in second place in league, now in a two-way tie just one-game out of first place with two games to play.

Sophomore KOBE SANDERS led Steele Canyon with 16 points, while senior THOMAS FISHBURNE let his presence be known early with a couple of three-pointers in the first quarter while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out three assists.

Fishburne has missed several games this season.

Steele Canyon was a terror early to the Eagles, recording a series of steals and converting them into points for a 12-2 lead.

Granite Hills showed some early resilience as XSAVIER SMITH tossed in a basket late in the first to close the lead to 15-8, but the Cougars proceeded to go on a 9-0 run.

Granite Hills’ RAY CUERO drives against Steele Canyon on Friday night. / EastCountySports.com photo

Later in the second, Fishburne hit his third three-pointer of the first half and Steele Canyon moved out to a 34-10 lead with 3:34 left before halftime.

Steele Canyon led 39-15 at halftime.

Senior GAGE SANDERS added 14 points, seven assists and five steals for the Cougars, while junior GRANT CHILDS finished with 11 markers.

Steele Canyon (12-7) buried 12 threes on the evening.

The Cougars’ game next Tuesday against Grossmont is another critical contest. Both teams are currently 5-3 in the GHL.