- 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
Monarchs have numbers to beat Cougars
- Updated: January 26, 2019
Monte Vista and Steele Canyon battle underneath on Friday night.
2019 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
MONTE VISTA 57, STEELE CANYON 50
EastCountySports.com staff report
SPRING VALLEY – It was a challenging game for all those involved at Steele Canyon High on Friday night.
From the players involved in the important Grossmont Valley League contest between the Monte Vista Monarchs and host Cougars, to the coaches, officials, and time and scorekeepers, it was a struggle just to get through four long quarters to a game with far less flow than your average league rumble.
By the time it was over, the Monarchs had claimed a 57-50 win to move into second place past Steele Canyon, and the fouls had claimed many of the Cougars, who finished the game with just three players on the floor.
Monte Vista (4-2 GVL) led 21-20 at halftime but did some great work in the third quarter behind the driving baskets and inside-out footwork by senior SARA TAHA.
When the Cougars’ press didn’t stop the Monarchs in the backcourt, usually due to a foul, Taha, was able to outrun her opponents to the goal several times, making layups high off the glass, or drawing contact on her shot.
Taha had 32 points in the contest and could’ve had more if not for a 4-for-11 mark on the free throw line in the fourth quarter.
Monte Vista eventually assumed a 50-36 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Interestingly, the Cougars were actually able to close the deficit once they were short-handed on the floor, which started midway through the fourth.
“Tonight, the refs really challenged Steele Canyon and us,” Monte Vista head coach SABRINA JIMENEZ said. “My bench had to step up and play some valuable minutes tonight. Our girls came out slow in the first half, but (during the) second half, we held our own and did our best to keep our composure.”
MAHKAYLAH CLINE had 11 points in the first half for Steele Canyon.
Taha had 10 points in the first half for Monte Vista.
Freshman MEADOW DELINO was stellar from the foul line for Monte Vista, making eight-of-nine in the second half to finish with 14 points for the game.
Monte Vista has a big home game next Tuesday against Santana at 6.
The Monarchs will likely need a win in order to have a shot at possibly sharing the league championship
2 Comments