Braves stun Sultans; Norsemen end skid

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: January 17, 2025

UPDATES – 2024-25 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

ECS staff report

EL CAJON – Opinions were split among coaches who resoinded on which team would capture the Grossmont Valley League.

The two choices seemed obvious: Santana easily posted the best non-league record, while El Cajon Valley is quickly rising after sweeping all four contests in its own tournament in mid-December.

The stage was set for Tuesday’s (Jan, 14) GVL opener between the schools, with the host Braves taking a surprisingly easy 45-31 triumph.

ECVHS (9-4 overall, 1-0 GVL), although by only small margins, took all quarters to prevent any sort of comeback by the Sultans (14-4, 0-1).

The Braves had won six straight before falling at Patrick Henry, which plays a similar defense, as Santana. Thus, ECVHS was prepared.

Meanwhile, Santana started with a 12-2 record — the school’s best since Hall of Fame head coach Wade Vickery directred the program. Since then the Sultans have now dropped two straight, first falling to EscondidoCharter and now the Braves — both on the road.

Power forward Asia Marie Dixon paced the Braves inside with 18 points. The senior also posted a double-double with a game-best 15 rebounds.

Dixon also posted seven steals and five blocks shots, demonstrating how close she came to a rare quadruple-double.

On the outside,sophomore guard McKinley Morgan sdded 16 points and 10 boards for her own double-double, as Morgan and Dixon combined to out-score the Sultans.

For Santana, Sam Mora tallied 15 points — her fourth-highest total of the season — scoring in double figures for the fifth straight5 contest in her bid for East County Freshman of the Year.

Valhalla 42, Mount Miguel 37

Ava Miller

SPRING VALLEY – Valhalla guard Chanel Akka, another freshman to watch, poured home a season-best 21 points, as the winless Norsemen shocked host Mount Miguel for thir first victory of the season, 42-37, in both teams’ Grossmont Valley League opener.

Akka’s previous best had been only 7 points against Hoover in limited action — she’s only played in six other ballgames — yet the Matadors had no answer to stop her. Plus, her scoring did not include any 3-point baskets.

In addition, senior Ava Miles added 13 points and 7 rebounds.

In other action, West Hills downed Monte Vista.

A pair of Wolf Pack seniors — Jordan Dillon (15) and Ava Kinser (12) — allowed West Hills to snap a 1-4 skid after starting the season with an 8-2 record.

Grossmont Hills

Grossmont 53, Helix 33

Cheyenne McMillan

FLETCHER HILLS – In a battle of defending Grossmont Hills League co-champions, the Grossmont Foothillers downed cross-neighbothood rival Helix Highlanders by 20 points — their largest margin since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hrossmont (14-3, 1-0 GHL) did not report its statistics.

The future for Helix looks promising with a pair of underclassman leading them in scoring –sophomore Cheyenne McMillan (16 points) and junior Michaelle Whyte (12).

El Capitan 62, Granite Hills 33

EL CAJON – The El Capitan Vaqueros ran their record to 17-3 — the school’s best mark tooen the season since the Duffy sisters patrolled the court — after stopping host Granite Hills in the GHL opener for both schools on Tuesday (Jan. 14).

Keira Heinricy paced the Vaqueros wqith 17 points, while Sammy Willis added 12.

The Granite Hills scoring leader was Jaylene Hughes with 19 points, but the ballclub was missing center Kerstena Tomika for undisclosed reasons. The Eagles fell to 7-8 (0-1 GHL).

The Duffy sisters included Allison, a center, the East County Player of the Year in 2003-04 before heading to play for San Diego State, and guard Ashley, who shared the 2008-09 East County Player sof the Year award with anesia Williamson of Mount Miguel. ARCHIVE PAGE