- Stars win opener at NBC World Series
- ROUND UP: Wolf Pack Take Down Eastlake
- Woodland’s Gem Propels Helix
- Patriots out-slug Vaqs to claim opener
- Rain Doesn’t Stop Wolf Pack
- Gallery: Boys Hoops – Week 10
- Vaqs continue qinning ways In tight contest
- VALLEY: Sultans finish undefeated season
- It takes the Pack to sweep Scotties
- Mujica & Co. keep rolling, win convincingly
- Singer retires again from coaching
- DIII: Southwest Eagles soar to championship
- 2018 EAST COUNTY SOFTBALL Schedule / Scores / Standings
- DV: LIONS ROAR TO CHAMPIONSHIP
- Williams, Vaqueros sweep into D3 final
- D2: After walk-off thrill, Sultans slump
- DII: SULTANS HAVE MADDY, MADDY, MAD POWER IN PLAYOFF WIN
- DIII: Vaqueros end Scotties’ upset run
- CIF OPEN DIVISION: SCRIPPS RANCH ROLLS EAGLES
- OPEN DIVISION: EAGLES RALLY TO STUN COUGARS
Walker, Childs lead Cougars to victory
- Updated: January 18, 2019
Steele Canyon's ROMAN MAMMO dribbles around Grossmont's MYKOL RODRIGUEZ on Friday.
STEELE CANYON 52, GROSSMONT 49
EastCountySports.com staff report
EL CAJON – Steele Canyon’s Mr. Energy, ANTOINE WALKER, kept up a frenetic pace all game, and teammate GRANT CHILDS calmly knocked down a go-ahead field goal with just over 10 seconds remaining on Friday night, as the Cougars knocked off Grossmont, 52-49, to assume second place in the Grossmont Hills League.
Walker, a junior, is terrific as a football defensive back and brings a bump-and-run-type coverage to the basketball court.
Twice he converted a basket on offense, only to turn up his team’s deep press and quickly steal the Foothillers’ inbounds pass right underneath the basket to score consecutive field goals in the span of a few seconds.
The second time he did it came late in the fourth quarter after Steele Canyon had relinquished a well-earned lead against a Foothiller unit which was, frankly, shorter than their opponent.
The first half was all about Antoine, really.
He scored 15 of his 18 first-half points in the first quarter.
Grossmont’s MYKOL RODRIGUEZ was a steady factor in the game. He was able to make several of his own field goals as the game remained close throughout.
Rodriguez’s teammate, NOAH VELASCO, was effective for the most part at breaking the press to get down the floor to settle into the offense or take it to the goal himself.
Velasco had nine points before halftime.
Cougar senior ROMAN MAMMO had a three-pointer in the first half.
Grossmont’s DAMARI CRAWFORD tied the game at 22-all in the first half with a drive to the basket.
Steele Canyon junior T-MAX NYUMAH had a pair of scores late in the first half, but Rodriguez tied the game at 31-all, then he got the Foothillers going in the second half with a drive to the goal for a score.
Childs had a basket late in the third quarter, but Rodriguez cut it to 41-39 late in the period.
The game was deadlocked late in the third quarter when LACHIN BEKIROV fought inside for a basket for Grossmont, firing up the crowd.
But Walker scored late in the fourth quarter with just over two minutes to play and Childs made his big shot for a 50-49 lead.
Steele Canyon moved to 3-1 in the GHL, trailing first-place Mount Miguel, which the Cougars will host on Tuesday, which all of a sudden is the biggest league game of the season to-date.
