SoCal Yeshiva defeats RedHawks

By David Dickens
Updated: November 30, 2021

2021 EAST COUNTY PREP BASKETBALL

By Dave Dickens

EastCountySports.com

EL CAJON (11-29-2021) – Following a week off, competing in actual games anyhow, Mountain Empire enjoyed their holiday, as all did.

It has been stated that the two biggest holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, appeared to begin earlier as the decorations went up faster, the shelves emptied in local supermarkets and in all retail stores, just as fast as they were filled.

The Pandemic that really changed the way our families got together last year, unfortunately, changed the very spirit of our favorite holidays, including for many schools, particularly in the public school sector, which saw much fewer boys and girls basketball tournaments, and which also reduced the number of fundraising dollars that could be utilized. A great example, a much-needed new gymnasium floor for volleyball, basketball, and many other events held in the gym.

We are now arriving at the very heart of the girls and boys basketball tournaments, full-speed ahead, like just today, at least 10 or more tournaments for girls and boys basketball just started today, or many resumed, or even just a huge bracket of non-league games are being played.

The Mountain Empire RedHawks were one of the many hosts this evening, and many in the afternoon had been played already.

Interestingly enough, the contest Monday evening featured a RedHawk team from Mountain Empire (1-2) and the visiting private school, the Southern California Yeshiva Hawks (1-3), from San Diego.

Even more of an interesting fact regarding the matchup this evening was that the head coach of the visitors was none other than the former El Cajon Valley High School boys basketball head coach Ray Mills, who coached a few years for the Braves. Coach Mills is in a similar position, just recently, as coach Bernard Vann of the Red Hawks, as both became athletic directors of their reputable schools.

Mountain Empire came out fast and had that glimmer in their eyes that they wanted the similar result when they last played at their temporary home away from home in the gymnasium at Greenfield Middle School, where they last opened up the season, on Nov. 19 with a convincing win over visiting Borrego Springs, 53-12.

Southern California Yeshiva had to show the hosts otherwise, although came into the evening at a winless 0-3.

SCY wasted no time pleading its case. Although both squads had a few fouls to stop play, SCY got to work quickly.

Leading the way and a player who became big trouble for the Red Hawks right out of the gate was Greg Eiseman, who led in scoring and other categories, and wreaked havoc all night long.

Unfortunately for the RedHawks, Corey Vann had a single three-pointer and Lukas Spencer hit a bucket, amassing only five points to their opponent scoring 18, as Eiseman with six points of the 18, as the first quarter came to a close, 18-5, in favor of SCY.

The second quarter of play is what really did the RedHawks in. Several mistakes would cost them dearly, in particular, either missing a lot of the rebounds that were missed on the offensive and defensive side.

Ultimately, it was the missed shots, and especially the passes that went to the blue jerseys on several occasions.

SCY ended up scoring 31 points to the anemic 10 points put up by the hosts, leaving the score 49-15 at the half. However, the biggest three points on the evening were scored by Corey Vann of the RedHawks, with a huge buzzer-beater from half-court. That was the brightest spot for Mountain Empire on this abysmal evening.

In the third quarter of play, the woes for the home squad continued as they put up a goose egg and lost the third quarter to SCY, 20-0.

The last quarter of play would show the fatigue of the host RedHawks, and Coach Mills of SCY had mentioned at the half he would at some point at the end of the third or beginning of the fourth quarter, begin playing his bench.

Only seven points were scored for the visitors, and the host Red Hawks only five, with a final score of 76-20, in favor of SCY.

“We were just physically outplayed. We allowed them to take rebounds out of our hands. One of the brightest spots was to have Corey playing again. We only have two days to practice, and then back at Greenfield to play again on Thursday. They need to learn what I am teaching as it is different from what they had been doing. The key to the next game is to remain calm and under control, said Coach Vann.

Mountain Empire will take on Chula Vista Learning Community Charter (0-0), and this will be their first game of the season. The game will be at Greenfield Middle School on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Corey Vann was the leading scorer with two three-pointers for six points.