Wolf Pack licking chops after wins

By David Dickens
Updated: December 18, 2021

West Hills senior Jacob Bedore against Liberty Charter. / Vic Marano

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2021-22 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

WEST HILLS 74, LIBERTY CHARTER 39

By Dave Dickens

EastCountySports.com

SANTEE (12-17-2021) – With one tournament approaching, a lengthy holiday break?

One might inquire within their own thoughts, West Hills head coach Tim Barry, in particular.

From youth to high school, college to pro, when momentum is building in our favor, Do we as that team, really want a long vacation away from our craft as things are just starting to heat up?

That could end up being the question of the year for the West Hills Wolf Pack.

With an overall record of 9-4, having just handed Liberty Charter their first leveling of the season, 77-27, in the first matchup of the season for both clubs, and to, interestingly enough, finish the tournament season, West Hills once again defeated the Liberty Charter Lions, 74-39.

The Lions have also been defeated by three other East County teams, 69-37, at the hands of the Monte Vista Monarchs, by Mountain Empire, 44-41, after defeating Granite Hills last year, the Eagles kindly returned the favor, with a major shellacking, 97-25, on Dec. 15, and then, of course, Saturday evening by the Pack.

To go out on a limb, the Lemon Grove natives of the East County have definitely been left with a sour taste in their mouths, much different than the Pack, have a whole slew of non-league games, as for West Hills, the first league game will be on Jan. 7 at West Hills versus Grossmont at 7 p.m. A game that will indeed be a nail-biter.

However, after the break, West Hills will finish off the tournament portion of the basketball season starting with Brawley (4-7), who is another team that has taken a beating from a few East County clubs. This will be a home game played at West Hills, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m.

As the game quickly unraveled, the first quarter ended as a win for the Pack, 20-11.

Junior Caden Akins led the scoring with three buckets in the first quarter.

As the Pack quickly caught fire, just as the previous game was played, the defense went into lockdown mode on their protection, also mixing it up with press and half-court man, as they have been using in the last two contests in particular.

West Hills would quite easily win the second quarter as well, 24-6. The Pack, as a team, picked up quite a few offensive and defensive rebounds, steals, and some blocks, a real lockdown defense for sure and limiting the Lions offensively, and leading 44-17 at the half.

Jake Kelly lit up the Lions’ defense with four field goals for eight points to lead the Pack in the second quarter.

It became a little closer as the Pack still won the third quarter 13-11, and finally triumphant, with the final score of 74-39.

Jake Partington had six field goals and was 2-for-4 from the line for a total of 14 points, while Kelly led the way with six field goals and was for-of-6 from the line for 16 total points.

Zeid Salem had five field goals and made 4-for-4 free throws for 14 total points, while Aikins had six field goals for 12 total points.

“Pack hoops put on another great defensive performance, We will head into the winter break and 17 days until our next game, with a 9-4 start and a lot of growth since the beginning of the season, said Barry.

“We are switching it up between half court man, and then we will go into our press in certain situations. These last two games I have done a majority of my scoring in transition. Going into the break we are going to need to come into league ready to play some very tough opponents,” Kelly said.