Wolf Pack not fazed by Sundevils’ game

By Ramon Scott
Updated: December 2, 2018

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

SANTEE – The West Hills Wolf Pack held Mt. Carmel without a field goal in the first quarter and put up just a few more of their own in a 40-31 win over the visiting Sundevils at the Armstrong Memorial Horsman Automotive Tournament on Saturday.

Ignited by blocked shots from OLEK ZUKOVSKYY, West Hills made playing offense miserable for the already pedestrian-speed Sundevils.

“We got great rim protection great rim protection from Olek,” West Hills coach ELIAS TOTAH said.

In fact, the Pack allowed Mt. Carmel just two field goals in the second quarter, as well, to lead 19-9 at halftime.

“A few of my blocks early on were key in establishing my defensive presence near the rim,” Zukovskyy said.

West Hills led 14-1 after the first period as guards MICHAEL TOTAH and CASH CREIGHTON each dropped in a three. Creighton had another triple in the second quarter.

“The key was simply getting defensive stops late in the game,” Michael Total said. “With a quality team that executed well, we had to keep the pressure up on ‘D’ and secure rebounds. We trusted our late-game execution and had enough poise late to hold them off”

KYLE DOBYNS had four points in the third quarter and CARSON HANSON sparked the team off the bench with a third-period trey.

In the fourth, it came down to the Wolf Pack’s free-throw shooting, and on this night, it was accurate enough, as West Hills made six-of-nine freebies down the stretch.

“Super job taking care of the basketball from Michael Totah within the last few minutes of the game,” Elias Totah said. “We got strong second half contributions from JAYDEN MORENO on both ends of the floor.”

Totah finished with 11 points as West Hills turned up the defense again in the fourth, limiting the visitors to just three more two-pointers.

“Mt. Carmel is a very slow methodical team so our key was to get more rebounds and push the ball because we felt like we were the faster team,” Moreno said. “I feel like I was most effective on the defensive end. Our big men were having a great game.

“This was definitely a defensive battle.”

For Totah, his two performances off a scary shoulder injury that sidelined him for one contest has to come as a relief as his team needs his poise and leadership.

Tests early last week showed no structural damage.

“We have to keep the turnovers down against the pressure and continue to effectively rebound the basketball while still controlling the tempo of the game,” Totah said following the win. “We’ll continue to prepare and take it one game at a time.”

WESTVIEW 54, HELIX 51 – The Helix Highlanders can take pride in their effort against undefeated Westview on Saturday at the Hilltop Invitational.

Playing without their top player, who was suspended for receiving a pair of technical fouls a night earlier, the Scotties just missed out on knocking off the Wolverines in a 54-51 loss.

The Highlanders held a one-point lead entering the fourth period, but Westview (7-0) outscored Helix, 18-13.

JAHARI HILL took over the scoring load for Helix (, putting in 10 of his 18 points in the second half, while SAMMY STEWART added 17 points, including a trio of three-pointers for the Highlanders.

KAI JESSIE came home with 10 points for the Scots, while teammate KEISHON TRICE added six points, but that would be all the scorers for Helix (2-3)

Ricardo Hopping led Westview with 20 points, including four three-pointers, but Trevor Fillat had a pair of three-pointers in the fourth quarter for the Wolverines.

ETIWANDA 63, FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 59 (OT) – The Knights led but Etiwanda forced overtime and continued on for the victory in the fifth-place game at the Battlezone in Corona.

Foothills Christian senior D.J. CARTER-HOLLINGER led all scorers with 28 points, while teammate YASSINE GHARRAM added 14 points and eight rebounds.

Gharram hit a 10-footer in the final minute of regulation to give the Knights a 56-43 lead.

The Knights led 52-47 with 2:54 left in regulation.

Carter-Hollinger hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the third quarter.

FCHS led 28-26 at halftime.

MOUNT MIGUEL 55, MORSE 40 – The Matadors visiting neighbor Morse and came away with a victory on Saturday to improve to 4-0.

The Tigers fell to 0-3.