Only Norsemen, Matadors advance

By Ramon Scott
Updated: June 2, 2021

Mount Miguel in the sportsmanship line following the game.

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

EL CAJON – Two East County teams claimed playoff victories on Tuesday evening in the opening round of the San Diego CIF divisional playoffs.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is there were ten other local teams in action that saw their season come to a one-and-done end.

The prospects of the locals weren’t exactly something to envy. Only three East outfits were hosting games as a result of a higher seed. And two of those teams were defeated.

The Valhalla Norsemen, the highest-rated local team entering the postseason, defeated the visiting Morse Tigers, 66-64 in overtime, in a Division III opener.

Valhalla is the top seed in Division III. The Tigers earned the matchup by way of a victory over El Capitan on Monday evening, giving local squads eleven eliminations heading into the second round.

Senior Joe Avalos poured home 29 points to help Valhalla (17-4).

Avalos had a pair of three-pointers in the first quarter as Valhalla went up 8-4.

Avalos made five three-point field goals and also went 12-of-13 from the fou line, as the Norsemen went 22-for-28 from the stripe.

Junior Alden Elliasen added 12 points for Valhalla.

Senior Nathan Shahatit scored nine points for the Norsemen, while junior teammate Josue Amaya finished with eight points, three steals, four blocked shots, and three assists.

Shahatit had a three in the second quarter to put Valhalla ahead 33-28.

Avalos had a three-pointer in the third quarter to give Valhalla a 36-30 lead. He knocked down another three in the fourth quarter to make it 47-46 in favor of the Norsemen

Calvert Esho had a team-high 12 rebounds for the Norsemen.

On Friday at 7, Valhalla will host the eighth-seeded Mira Mesa Marauders, who were 43-41 winners over visiting ninth-seed Ramona on Tuesday.

MOUNT MIGUEL 46, PATRICK HENRY 45 – The Mount Miguel Matadors pulled out a 46-45 victory at Patrick Henry in a Division II first-round game for the only other East County victory on Tuesday.

The ninth-seeded Matadors outscored the eighth-seeded Patriots 17-8 in the fourth quarter to rally for the win.

Patrick Henry scored the first five points of the game and led 15-6 after the first quarter and by a 20-15 count at halftime. Henry led by nine going into the fourth.

Patrick Henry led 37-27 late in the third quarter but the Matadors’ John Brooks scored a layup with six seconds left to cut it to single digits.

Mount Miguel trailed 40-34 with six minutes to play in the game.

Senior Jaycee Coulter had a big basket and foul conversion in the fourth for Mount Miguel. Coulter also had a three-pointer in the second quarter.

But it was Coulter’s three-pointer with just under two minutes to play in the fourth quarter which gave Mount Miguel a 45-42 lead.

Coulter finished with 14 points.

Senior Dre Richardson had a pair of threes for Mount Miguel.

Elijah Black made a pair of free throws in the fourth quarter that brought Mount Miguel to within 40-38 with just over half the period remaining.

Black made five free throws in the fourth quarter and Mount Miguel made 11-of-20 from the line in the fourth period.

Black finished with 11 points. His final free throw gave Mount Miguel a 46-44 lead.

Kaleb Wilson got his own rebounds on a miss and put it back in to tie the game at 42-all with just over three minutes left.

Wilson had six points, while teammate John Brooks added seven points.

Patrick Henry’s attempt at a game-winning three glided off the back rim.

Mount Miguel (13-7) will travel to face 11th-ranked Orange Glen, the top-seeded team in Division II on Friday at 7.

MADISON 70, MONTE VISTA 52 – The Monarchs got the start they were looking for with a 6-2 run to start the Division III first-round game but the Monarchs trailed 17-11 after the first quarter.

“We struggled shooting early from the outside and free-throw line,” Monte Vista head coach Mike Tully said. “Turnovers and foul trouble had us down at the half.”

Madison led 43-23 in the opening minute of the third quarter but Monte Vista went on a 15-0 run behind Brandon Tully, Deron Whitley, and pressing defense.

The Warhawks swung the momentum late in the fourth quarter to take an 11-point lead into the fourth.

Brandon Tully scored 21 points for the Monarchs, including a pair of three-pointers in the third quarter. He also had five rebounds and three steals in the contest.

“We fight hard until the end and that’s always the best part about this team,” Brandon Tully said. “No matter the record of who we play, we do out best. You can’t win every game but you can play hard every game.”

Cameron McKan added nine points and four steals for Monte Vista (11-15). He made a three-pointer in the second quarter.

Isaiah Hilke had eight points and nine rebounds for Monte Vista, while Whitley finished with seven points.

FRANCIS PARKER 77, CHRISTIAN 45 – At Hilgren Court, Hunter Provience led Christian High with 14 points, including eight in the first half, as the Lancers won a Division I playoff game on Tuesday.

Junior Nelson added eight points for the Patriots, who finished 5-11.

Isaiah Givens and Zerry Smith made three-pointers in the fourth quarter for Christian. Patrick Perez had a three in the third quarter for the Pats.

Patriot senior Jack St. Fleur, who is headed to play football at San Francisco City College, scored six points.

“Jack had a great effort in his last game for us,” Christian High head coach Tim Brown said. “We did our best to slow down their shooting but they had too much firepower. All of my guys learned from the D1 playoff experience and with only losing one senior, we are hungry to compete next season.”

HOOVER 78, WEST HILLS 39 – Fourth-seeded Hoover overwhelmed the Wolf Pack in the Division III playoff opener, particularly in the first half, taking a 31-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Kyle Dobyns led 13th-seeded West Hills with 21 points

Ryan Mailloux and Jarrett Hartwig each made a three-pointer for the Wolf Pack.

“Hoover is the real deal,” West Hills head coach Tim Barry said. “They played perfect. They were truly the best team we faced this season. It was the end of an era tonight and I have no complaints. We stayed together and played hard. We will be young and talented next year.”

Hoover’s Wayne Hampton III made four three-pointers in the first quarter and scored 18 of his 28 points in the period.

West Hills finished 15-11.

BONITA VISTA 68, HELIX 55 – Bona O’Quinn hit three-pointers to try and keep 13th-seeded Helix within striking distance of fourth-seeded host Bonita Vista in a Division I first-round game in the South Bay

O’Quinn made a three-pointer in the second quarter to pull Helix to within 29-20.

O’Quinn had a three-pointer in the third quarter to pull the Highlanders to within 51-39.

Devin Albert had a pair of three-pointers for Helix (12-11).

Markees Williams kept Helix’s rally try going with a three in the second half, as well.

Helix senior Isaiah Thomas polished off his career with an emphatic slam dunk in the fourth quarter.

WESTVIEW 59, GROSSMONT 31 – Elijah Williams scored nine points in the first quarter and Cannon Zamora had a pair of three-pointers to highlight Grossmont’s trip to Westview for an opening-round playoff game in Division II.

Grossmont trailed just 15-12 after the end of the first quarter but trailed by a 27-16 count at halftime, as Sergio Franso had all of the Hillers’ four second-quarter points.

Grossmont finished 13-11 overall.

KEARNY 62, SANTANA 50 – The ninth-seeded Komets defeated the eighth-seeded Sultans Division IV matchup at Santana High.

Santana lost a previous meeting to the Komers, 59-57 back on April 3.

Santana had the game’s first bucket and led 6-4 with 4:44 to play in the first quarter

Santana led 10-9 sith 1:50 to play in the first quarter, but Kearny took the lead near the end of the period.

Kearny took a 21-16 lead in the second quarter and Keanry led 40-31 with two minutes left in the third quarter.

Eventually the Komets were up 53-35 in the fourth.

Santana, which shot 29 percent from the field, finished 7-11.

CALEXICO 70, GRANITE HILLS 43 – Calexico wasn’t a big secret to the Granite Hills Eagles coming into town with just a 3-2 record in the shortened season out in Imperial County.

The Bulldogs just haven’t had the opportunity to get on the court.

Granite Hills finished 13-6.

SAN YSIDRO 100, FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 63 – The fifth-seeded Cougars got their hundy against the 12th-seeded Knights in a Division I opener at the Border Boyz’ place.

Foothills Christian finished an uncharacteristic 8-17.

SAN DIEGUITO ACADEMY 62, STEELE CANYON 51 – The Cougars had one of the best accounts of the night from the East teams, representing at SDA in a Division III matchup.

The Cougars were the 11-seed coming in against the sixth-seeded Mustangs.

Steele Canyon finished 11-11.

HOLTVILLE 69, EL CAJON VALLEY 45 – The third-seeded Vikings won against the visiting Braves in a Division IV first-round game.

2021 BOYS BASKETBALL
CIFSDS PLAYOFFS

OPEN DIVISION
Quarterfinals
(8) Carlsbad at (1) Torrey Pines
(5) St. Augustine at (4) Santa Fe Chr.
(6) El Camino at (3) San Marcos
(7) Misison Hills at (2) Carhedral Catholic

DIVISION I
First Round
(1) Mater Dei Catholic 96, (16) Rancho Buena Vista 32
(9) San Diego HS 74, (8) Vista 62
(5) Francis Parker 77, (12) Christian 45
(4) Bonita Vista 68, (13) Helix 55
(3) Mission Bay 66, (14) Mongomery 51
(6) San Ysidro 100, (11) Foothills Christian 63
(7) La Costa Canyon 57, (10) Poway 54
(2) La Jolla Country Day 88, (15) Itay Ranch 46
Quarterfials
Fri., June 4
San Diego HS at Mater Dei Catholic
Francis Parker at Bonita Vista
San sidro at Mission Bay
La COsta Canyon at La Jolla Country Day

DIVISION II
Quarterfinals
(1) Orange Glen 53, (16) University City 53
(9) Mount Miguel 46, (8) Patrick Henry 45La Jolla 68, (12) The Bishop’s 58
(4) Del Norte 52, (13) Lincoln 44
(3) Canyon Crest 66, (14) Eastlake 53
(11) Rancho Bernardo 47, (6) Oceanside 46
(7) Westview 59m (10) Grossmont 31
(2) Coronado 72, (15) Army-Navy 64
Quarterfinals
Mount Miguel at Orange Glen
La Jolla at Del Norte
Rancho Bernardo at Canyon Crest
Westview at Coronado
(5)

DIVISION III
First Round
(1) Valhalla 66, (16) Morse 64
(8) Mira Mesa 43, (9) Ramona 41
(12) Calexico 70, (5) Granite Hills 43
(4) Hoover 78, (13) West Hills 39
(3) Madison 70, (14) Monte Vista 52
(4) San Dieguito 62, (11) Steele Canyon 51
(7) Sage Creek 72, (10) Mt. Carmel 56
(2) EC-Central 72, (15) SD-Southwest 64
Quarterfinals
Mira Mesa at Valhalla
Calexico at Hoover
San Dieguito at Madison
Sage Creek at EC-Central

DIVISION IV
First Round
(1) Maranatha Christian 65, (16) Classical 20
(9) Kearny 62, (8) Santana 50
(5) SD-High Tech 59, (12) Hilltop 39
(13) San Pasqual 64m (4) Victory Christian 60
(3) Holtville 69, (14) ECVHS 45
(6) Escondido Charter 56, (11) EC-Southwest 51
(7) Guajome Park 69, (10) Fallbrook 63
(2) Calvin Christian 65m (15) Imperial 28
Quarterfinals
Kearny at Escondido Charter
San Pasqual at SD-High Tech
Escondido Charter at Holtbille
Guajome Parkk at Calvin Christian

DIVISION V
First Round
(1) Liberty Charter – bye
(8) Vincent Memorial df. (9) Cambridge, forfeit
(5) Bonsall 67, (12) COastal Academy 37
(4) St. Joseph – bye
(3) Bayfront Charter – bye
(5) Palo Verde Valley 68, (11) NC-High Tech 25
(7) CV-High Tech 64, (10) Escondido Adventist 29
Quarterfinals
Vincent Memorial at Liberty Charter, Lemon Grove Rec Center
Bonsall at St. Joseph
Palo Verde Valley at Bayfront Charter
CV High Tech at Crawford
(2) Crawford – bye