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Highlanders try to find identity in win
- Updated: December 17, 2019
Helix senior Maurice Holmes follows through on a free throw on Monday. / photo by Nicholas James
2019 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
HELIX 69, POINT LOMA 47
By Nicholas James
Special to EastCountySports.com
CHULA VISTA — The Helix Highlanders won their varsity basketball game on Monday night against the Point Loma Pointers, 69-47, in a Sweetwater Tournament game at Sweetwater Union High School.
Both teams started off hot, with the first three baskets by both teams combining for nine quick points before both teams slowed down their scoring but not their defensive tempo.
Both squads played full court man to man defense that sometimes resulted in early double teams to force awkward passes.
The second period was much of the same before Helix pulled off an 11-0 run towards the end of the first half to push their lead to double digits with a 31-21 lead.
Helix senior Maurice Holmes goes to the rim on Monday night against Point Loma. / photo by Nicholas James
The start of the second half, and for the rest of the game, was all Helix.
Helix continued to push their double-digit lead for the rest of the game with an aggressive defense that forced the Pointers to turn the ball over every other possession. Combine that with its high-tempo offense and the lead ballooned to 21 with 4:13 left in the third period.
Point Loma went on small runs, but they could never close the gap that was already in place. The closest it would get to would be 15, but Helix kept its foot on the gas pedal and would eventually push its lead back up to 21 by the end of the third.
That put Helix in a comfortable 58-37 lead heading into the fourth period.
Passing by the Highlanders played key for them in the fourth period.
While Point Loma was scrambling to find open shots and still turning the ball over, Helix played around the Pointers 2-3 zone defense and was able to keep its double-digit lead in the upper teens by driving and passing, keeping the Pointers at their heels and forcing them to adjust on-the-go.
Helix (6-4) lost its last game on December 14 to Mater Dei.
Point Loma (4-5) came into the game after losing to El Camino on the same day.
Helix plays its next game against Morse on December 18. Point Loma plays against Otay Ranch next.
TORREY PINES 76, SANTANA 36 – The fourth-ranked Falcons came to Santee and took away a 40-point win over the Sultans in a Titan Challenge game.
Torrey Pines led 26-8 after the first quarter and 46-18 by halftime.
SCRIPPS RANCH 62, STEELE CANYON 18 – The Falcons knocked off the Cougars in a Grossmont Winter Classic game at Olympian High School.
Scripps Ranch led 12-4 after one and built the lead to 31-7 by halftime.
The Cougars, who fell to 1-6, were shutout in the fourth quarter.
