1,000-point trio inch Matadors closer

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: January 28, 2023

2022-23 EAST COUNTY GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

FLETCHER HILLS – If there was any team that could make any sort of dent in Mount Miguel High’s quest for a 23rd consecutive girls basketball league championship, it would seem second-place Grossmont would own the best chance in the Grossmont Hills League.

Still, Las Matadores is a state-respected program; the Foothillers are not, and they learned about the difference moments into Friday’s (Jan 27) scrimmage at Grossmont.

Mount Miguel converted the first 6-of-7 shots from the floor, then added a pair of foul shots, rapidly building an impressive 16-0 cushion in the opening minutes, taking a comfortable 74-38 decision over the Foothillers.

Zanna Hurst

Mount Miguel (15-6 overall, 5-0 GHL) needs just one additional triumph to clinch yet another league crown.

The Matadors have yet to lose to Grossmont this century, although there was a gap f more than 10 years when these State Hwy 125 neighbors did not play since they were in opposite Grossmont Conference leagues.

The biggest decision left for Mount Miguel in the regular season is to select the GHL Player of the Year. A likely candidate is senior guard Jennifer Moreno, who kept the numbers of the scoreboard rolling by registering a triple-double. Moreno finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists — most recorded in the first three quarters.

Moreno ignited the Mount Miguel offense with a triple, followed by a pair of lay-ins to score seven of the first 14 points. By the time Grossmont put a body on her for a foul, her free throws made it 16-0, with the Hillers not scoring until there was :53 remaining in the period.

Jennifer Moreno

By the time the period came to a conclusion, it was 25-6, including a pair of triples by Zanna Hurst, and (18 points), and three driving layins by Ixchel Rojo (13 points), who is one of three Matadors on the current roster with more than 1,000 career points (now standing at 1,255 points).

Others scoring for Mount Miguel were Yaneli Rosales (16) and Helen Rosales (6),

For Grossmont (12-4 overall, 3-2 GHL),point guard Kellan Hayden finished with 14 points (however, 8 in the fourth quarter), while forward Jaylee Cole was limited to 8 points. In additional, Daliayah Blake added 6 points.

Yaneli Rosales

This was supposed to be a busy week for Mount Niguel, was was slated to meet Carlsbad earlier in the week. However, for those who remember last spring when Mission Hills baseball bowed out of the championship game of the Granite Hills Tournament, only to play lowly Poway in a consolation contests, Carlsbad claimed they were forced to play a league contests with winless El Camino (0-19).

However, there will be no such issues with the Mission Hills girls basketball team (14-7, 6-0 Palomar League), a Top 10 program which will host the Matadors on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

Scores

Grossmont Hills League
Mount Miguel 74, Grossmont 38
Monte Vista at Helix, no report
Bye, El Capitan
Grossmont Valley League
Granite Hills 46, ECVHS 34
Steele Canyon 64, West Hills 21
Santana at Valhalla, no report
Others
Vista 58, Ramona 38
Patrick Henry 37, La Jolla 30
Scripps Ranch 56, Christian 24
Foothills Christian at Del ago (Escondido), late
Borrego Springs at West Shores, late