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Curtis scores 40, goes 10-for-10 at line
- Updated: November 28, 2018
2018 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
EL CAPITAN 64, UNIVERSITY CITY 35
EastCountySports.com staff report
LAKESIDE – El Capitan sophomore MACKENZIE CURTIS is already a prolific scorer but usually not a one-person operation because of a strong supporting cast.
But because of the matchup against the University City Centurions on Tuesday night, the Vaqueros’ game plan was to get their star the ball in position to score.
As a result, Curtis scored 40 points to lead the Vaqueros to a 64-35 win over UC.
“We were looking to get Mackenzie Curtis the ball,” El Capitan head coach DARIN CURTIS said. “She had a big night and she made the most of the scoring by opportunities her teammates gave her.”
The final point tally may have come as a surprise since Curtis came on strong in the second half and went 10-for-10 at the free throw line.
“Everyone was ready to play tonight and it was fun to play,” Mackenzie Curtis said. “It was a great win.
“Coming into the game we knew (UC senior Morgan Wills) had to be stopped, so that was out main priority. (UC senior Sammie Staples) did hit the boards a lot, as well,”
It was UC’s first game of the season.
“it was close at half but once it was hit the fourth quarter, we just got whatever shot or look we wanted,” Mackenzie Curtis said.
JORDAN GRANDY added nine points for El Capitan,
“I thought the beginning was a bit rough because of our defense,” Grandy said. “We weren’t doing good covering the weak side, but after halftime it really just picked up because we all realized that they were only close because of our mistakes.
“When we have a Mackenzie Curtis making her shots, there’s no possibility of us going down from where we were in the start.”
El Capitan’s SHIANA PERES and TIFFANY BICKFORD both added seven points.
“Shiana Peres continues to improve her offense while her defense changes the entire game,” Darin Curtis said.
Curtis and Grandy combined for 10 points int he opening quarter, but El Cap led just 13-9.
Bickford, a freshman, had a three-pointer in the second quarter for the Vaqueros, who led just 24-19 at intermission.
“Tiffany Bickford continues to come up big doing everything we are asking her to do,” Darin Curtis said.
Grandy had her second three of the night in the third quarter and El Capitan limited the Centurions to just two field goals in the third quarter.
“Our leaders, DEVON BULLOCK and Jordan Grandy our doing it at both ends of the court,” Darin Curtis said. “I’m not sure if either one ever came out of the game, and their consistent play made the difference.
“STEPHANIE YEAKLE is the player giving us the biggest minutes that don’t show up in the stat book.”
The Vaqueros face Mira Mesa on Wednesday at 3:30.
“Our team is a little short handed right now, but everyone is looking to step it up,” Darin Curtis said. “I couldn’t be more proud of our overall effort.”
