Vaqueros pass first important test

By Adam Paul
Updated: November 30, 2022

2022=23 EAST COUNTY BOYS PREP BASKETBALL

ECS staff report

LAKESIDE – In what was their first big test of the early season, the home team El Capitan Vaqueros convincingly defeated the visiting Hilltop Lancers, 90-65, on Tuesday (Nov. 29).

The Vaqueros would lead by as many as nine points in the first quarter with under a minute remaining to lead 28-19 and would lead 28-22 after one period of play.

Another monster run by the Vaqueros of 11-0 would really extend the lead even further as they would lead 39-22 before the Lancers finally got on the board. El Capitan was just too much for the Lancers as once again they push their lead to eighteen to eventually twenty points with under three minutes remaining in the first half. However, the Vaqueros were not done as they would outscore the lancers 30-6 in the second quarter behind the big-time defense to lead 58-28 at the break.

More of the same for the Vaqueros to start the third quarter as they kept their lead going but the Lancers would actually outscore El Capitan 19-14 in the quarter. El Capitan would end the quarter on the 6-0 run as Marcus Gonzalez who chipped in 10 points on the evening knocked down back-to-back threes to end the period.

El Capitan in the fourth quarter would maintain their lead despite both squads scoring eighteen points apiece.

Five different Vaqueros would tally double-digit nights while in total eight players would chip in scoring on the night.

Leading the way scoring-wise was Freshman James Wilson who poured in 19 points, Micah Odell with 16, freshman Kayden McMahon with 14, and Chance LaChappa with 13.

With the big win, the Vaqueros remain unbeaten and move their record to 4-0 and will next hit the road against Clairemont on Thursday evening for a 7:30 PM tip-off.

Canyon Hills 49, West Hills 48
TIERRASANTA – In a tightly contested game the entire way, the visiting Wolf Pack came up just short in the end despite a great defensive effort, falling to the Canyon Hills Rattlers, 49-48.

West Hills who came into the contest shooting pretty well for whatever reason just couldn’t knock down the shots on the night they normally do and that showed as they only tallied five points in the second quarter. Despite the low-scoring output, it was their defense that would keep them in the contest as they would only trail 24-22 at halftime.

Only a pair of Pack players would see double-digit scoring on the night which was led by Zeid Salem who would score 9 of his leading 16 points in the fourth quarter, the other player to reach double figures was Loni Messina who knocked down three treys in scoring 14 points.

“Despite the tough night knocking down shots we normally do which was frustrating we really battled and hung in there til the buzzer, I’m really proud of the boy’s effort and fight throughout the entire 32 minutes. We had possession at the end for the win and came up a little short,” said Pack Head coach Tm Barry on the night’s performance.

Loni Messina who drained a pair of three-pointers in the first half really showed his growth tonight with his lockdown defense and that is one of the parts that have the Pack boys heading in the right direction.

West Hills takes their first loss of the season at 4-1 and will stay on the road for a 7 PM tipoff on the island as they take on the Coronado Islanders on Wednesday evening to close out the month of November.