BOYS: Amaya leads Norse; Eagles win

By Ramon Scott
Updated: May 14, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

EastCOuntySports.com staff report

EL CAJON – The Valhalla Norsemen won in overtime against the visiting Foothillers in a key victory in the Grossmont Hills League, 67-63, behind junior Josue Amaya.

Valhalla re-entered the championship race with its second league victory in four starts.

Valhalla is 11-4 overall and 2-2 in the GHL.

Valhalla led 30-24 at halftime.

In the first quarter, Junior River Elliott made a three-pointer for Grossmont (11-7, 2-3 GHL).

Grossmont junior Aaron Velasco then made a three-pointer to beat the buzzer at the end of the first period. He had another trey in the second quarter.

Grossmont went on a torrid pace to rally in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Norsemen, 24-18, to force the extra session.

The Norsemen got a 28-point performance from junior Josue Amaya.

Valhalla senior Joe Avalos added 22 points. He had a trio of three-pointers in the second quarter, with the last a deep three forcing a Grossmont time out.

Avalos added another long bomb in the third quarter, as did Amaya shortly after in the fourth.

Valhalla led 40-36 late in the third quarter and took a six-point lead into the fourth.

Amaya scored ahead of the Valhalla defense and drew a foul, making the three-point play for a big move for the Norsemen in the fourth quarter.

Amaya knocked down a pair of free throws in the fourth quarter that was key for Valhalla, giving them a 60-57 lead.

Junior Elijah Williams, however, looked cool during a frantic last few seconds in regulation, as it was up to him to fire a last-second, game-tying attempt which went down perfectly from straight downtown.

Amaya scored the first bucket of the overtime on a scooping layup past the defender, then a few moments later secured a steal, then floated a banker off the glass and through.

Calbert Esho added a basket near the finish from an assist by Avalos after Amaya secured a rebound.

Sergio Franso had the field goal in OT for Grossmont

The Norsemen are at Steele Canyon next in another key Grossmont Hills League game.

GRANITE HILLS 62, STEELE CANYON 53 – The Eagles picked up a huge road win in Grossmont Hills League play by holding the Cougars to just four points in the second quarter to take a 28-20 lead into halftime.

The Eagle defensive effort remained strong in the third quarter, as Steele scored just seven points.

Steele Canyon trailed, 49-27 entering the third quarter.

The Cougars put it together in the fourth, scoring 26 points but it wouldn’t be enough.

With such balance in the league and a front-runner yet to be determined, winning on the road is a big hurdle to getting a foothold on the title.

Granite Hills is 3-2 in league play, while the Cougars are 202 in the GHL currently.

The Cougars grabbed the first five points of the game, including a three-pointer from senior Alessandro Pabon.

AZ Simpson had a first-quarter score that gave the Cougars a 7-3 lead.

Senior Deon Spear scored on a field goal late in the first quarter to cut a Cougar lead to 13-10.

Freshman Derek Edmund of Granite had a miss but rebounded his own shot while falling down and put it back in for a 22-17 lead with just over three and a half minutes left in the first half.

Moments later Edmund knocked down a three-pointer for a 25-18 lead for the Eagles.

The Cougars grabbed the first bucket of the second half but the six-point deficit was as close they would get.

Edmund had a steal and driving bucket for a nine-point lead.

Moments later, Spear hit a floater for a 36-22 advantage.

Junior Tre Edmund hit a spinning jumper in the lane to gives the Eagles a 42-22 lead.

Later, Tre Edmund drove and put one off the glass late in the quarter to keep the advantage at 20, then followed it up with a jumper at the end of the third quarter for a 49-27 edge.

The Cougar charge in the fourth was real and full of energy but the deficit was too great to overcome.

Junior Camrien Hunt knocked down a deep three to bring the Cougars to within 51-38 with five minutes to play.

Derek Edmund put down one more three for good measure with under four minutes to play.

SANTANA 65, EL CAJON VALLEY 48 – Senior Ethan Wolchko led the Sultans with 21 points, including three three-poitners.

Senior Alden Rasmussen added 14 points for Santana. He grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.

Senior Aiden Baker finished with 11 points for Santana. He also drained three treys.

The Sultans improved to 2-2 in the GVL standings.

SANTA FE CHRISTIAN 65, FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 55 – The Eagles outscored the visiting Knights 23-13 in the final quarter for the winning margin.

Senior Darrien Carter-Hollinger led the Knights with 17 points, five assists, and 13 rebounds.

Junior Anthony Lambert added 17 points and seven rebounds for FCHS (6-12).

EL CAPITAN 64, O’FARRELL 52 – The Vaqueros picked up their second win of the season by knocking off the Falcons

Micah Odell led El Capitan with 20 points.

R.J. Lugtu finished with 18 points, including 7-of-10 from the foul line.

Daisean Desinor contributed 12 points, including 4-of-5 from the line.

El Capitan is at Monte Vista for a Grossmont Valley League game on Tuesday.

LIBERTY CHARTER 63, CLAIREMONT 40 – On Saturday, the Lions won after leading 29-10 at halftime.

Senior Tyler Snell led Liberty with 17 points, including four three-pointers for the game. He also handed out seven assists, blocked six shots, and made three steals.

Senior Jonah Belprez added 12 points for LCHS.

Senior Jayden Swanson added 11 points for the Lions, but more impressive was his 22-rebound effort, including 20 on the defensive glass.

Liberty improved to 13-6 overall.