Vaqueros, Norsemen, Wolf Pack, Sultans, Knights get wins

By Ramon Scott
Updated: January 9, 2019

Valhalla senior EVAN O'NEILL scores on Tuesday night against Monte Vista.

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

EL CAJON – The El Capitan Vaqueros shrugged off an early 9-0 deficit and eventually came back to defeat the host Granite Hills Eagles, 47-45, in a Grossmont Valley League opener on Tuesday night.

The Vaqueros actually got right back in the game in the second quarter to pull to within 19-17 but the Eagles went on a late first-half run to lead 26-17 at intermission.

El Capitan (9-7) took its first lead 37-36 midway through the fourth quarter

Junior JAQORI HARRIS hit six consecutive fourth-quarter free throws to preserve the victory for the Vaqueros.

El Capitan senior center RANDY TUCKER dominated inside with a 21-point, 22-rebound game.

Vaquero junior guard JAKE PFITZNER added 13 points

Granite Hills’ JOHN VRSICH had 15 points and 12 rebounds, while teammate HUNTER PIKE had seven blocked shots.

MCKAY ROBERTS added 11 points for the Eagles, while JOHN YAKOU knocked down four three-pointers in the contest.

VALHALLA 76, MONTE VISTA 61 – Grossmont Valley League favorite Valhalla resisted a mild comeback from the visiting Monarchs in the league opener for both teams.

Fifteenth-ranked Valhalla led by more than 30 points early in the second half before the Monarchs whittled the lead in half.

Senior JORDAN GAINES continued to excel for Valhalla, scoring 27 points, grabbing six rebounds and recording five steals.

Senior EVAN O’NEILL also turned in a blockbuster effort, racking up 26 points and ripping down 13 rebounds.

Senior DOMANIC SAFARTA added 11 points and dished out 11 assists for Valhalla (14-2, 1-0).

Monte Vista senior DEMARCUS MCKAN scored 16 points, while senior teammate DERRICK WILEY added 11 points.

The Monarchs appeared doomed after their three-point first quarter.

“We need to compete better,” Monte Vista head coach MIKE TULLY said.

Monte Vista (7-11, 0-1) also got nine points from TOMMY GALLEGOS, seven points from KENNY STEVENS and six points from JEVON BROOKS.

WEST HILLS 61, VICTORY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 53 – JAYDEN MORENO came off the bench to lead the Wolf Pack with 22 points – all in the second half – and a come-from-behind win over host Victory Christian Academy.

Moreno, usually a starter, could only sit and watch as the Wolf Pack trailed early by an 8-0 score.

VCA eventually jumped out to a 12-5 lead after one quarter and led 22-15 at halftime.

But Moreno and junior center EUGENE VAUAUX led the charge.

Moreno didn’t even hit the scorebook until the third quarter. His first field goal closed the Knights’ lead to 22-19.

“I didn’t start (Moreno) tonight because I wanted to see if he had an edge to him,” West Hills coach ELIAS TOTAH said. “He needs to play hard and like he did in the second half tonight for all four quarters.”

Moreno tied the game at 22-all with a field goal and moments later, ASHTON AVESTO canned a three-pointer for a 27-26 edge.

Victory Christian regained a slim lead, but OLEG ZUKOVSKYY had a pair of field goals in the third quarter to help the Pack.

Moreno then hit a three-pointer that tied the score at 36-all with under two minutes to play in the third, then he followed it up with another three for the lead late in the period.

KYLE DOBYNS chipped in with 10 points for West Hills (10-6).

“Vauaux was huge for us,” Totah said. “He contained their big most of the second half and made him uncomfortable on the block. We just need to play for 32 minutes and we will be fine heading into league.”

SANTANA 53, EL CAJON VALLEY 45 – The Sultans won their fifth-straight game by opening the Grossmont Valley League campaign with a road win over the Braves.

Santana sophomore CARSON BURTON had a breakout performance with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

Senior DESMOND WILLIAMS added 12 points and three steals for Santana (7-11, 1-0), while sophomore teammate AIDEN RASMUSSEN contributed 10 points, six rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.

El Cajon Valley (7-9, 0-1) got 29 points from senior DAEVION ROGERS. He also had 15 rebounds, seven steals, four assists, and three blocked shots.

FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 62, BISHOP’S 50 – The fourth-ranked Foothills Christian Knights defeating the visiting Bishop’s Knights to earn their first Coastal League win of the season.

Foothills Christian led 44-37 after three quarters.

University of Montana-bound senior D.J. CARTER-HOLLINGER had 17 points to lead Foothills Christian (11-4, 1-1).

Senior guard JAREN NAFARETTE added 13 points for FCHS.

Junior guard YASSINE GHARRAM added 12 points and junior forward JALAI O’KEITH contributed 10 points for the Knights.

Foothills Christian had another big game on Friday night when its hosts sixth-ranked La Jolla Country Day at Cuyamaca College.

O’FARRELL CHARTER 57, LIBERTY CHARTER 38 – O’Farrell improved to a county-best 16-1 with a home win over the Lions in a Summit League contest.

Liberty fell to 1-1 in league and 7-7 overall.

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