ROUNDUP: Cougars lead east winners

By Bill Dickens
Updated: December 30, 2016

2016-17 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com

SAN DIEGO (12-30-16) — KOBE SANDERS played beyond his years at the Mt. Carmel Tournament Thursday (Dec. 29). The fact that he’s only a freshman at the varsity level is spectacular enough.

Given that he hit 6 three-pointers in Steele Canyon’s 72-53 romp over the Mission Vista Timberwolves proves that he’s more dash than flash, finishing with 18 points.

Nine Cougars contributed to the scoring pad set by Sanders’ high-speed pace.

“Kobe hit his first 6 shots and got us fired up,” said Cougars coach DEREK STEPHENS.

De’ANGELO LEWIS helped lead the supporting cast with 12 points, as did JALEN SAYLES with 12 more.

Steele Canyon will play Westview Friday (Dec. 30) at Mt. Carmel at 11 a.m.

Steele Canyon: Kobe Sanders 18, De’Angelo Lewis 12, Jalen Sayles 12, Tyler Smith 8, Nick Barns 7, Kyree Woods 6, Thomas Fishburne 5, Gage Sanders 2, Darrin Spence 2.

VALHALLA 47, POINT LOMA 46 – The Valhalla Norsemen will battle Ramona Friday (Dec. 30) at 4:30 at Montgomery for the Montgomery Tournament championship, as they try to win some more hardware before league play.

The Norsemen might have missed their chance for a berth in the finals had it not been for two clutch free throws by RAMZI SULTAN with 5 seconds left in Thursday’s (Dec. 29) semifinal that sealed the victory for Valhalla.

Sultan finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks and one steal.

MALIQUE SHAW chipped in with 9 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Valhalla: Ramzi Sultan 13 (10 reb, 1 ast, 2 blk, 1 stl), Malique Shaw 9 (11 reb, 4 blk), Ty Schimke 7 (2 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl), Evan O’Neil 6 (2 reb), Jonah Howard 5 (3 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl), Kai Komaki 5 (3 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl), Micah Campos 2 (1 ast).

CHRISTIAN 74, GILBERT CLASSICAL 51 – The Christian High Patriots made like a buzz saw and slashed their way to a 26-11 first quarter lead over the Spartans in Thursday’s (Dec. 29) Rancho Solono Classic in Phoenix.

This was a semifinal and the Patriots will play NFL Yet Prep on Friday (Dec. 30) for the tournament championship. NFL Yet Prep defeated Valley Lutheran, 61-57, on Thursday.

NASHOM CARTER paced the Patriots with 21 points and 10 assists, while JACKSON LARSEN knocked down 18 points and cleared 10 caroms to guide Christian to 8-1.

PATRICK ROBERTS added 14 points to slam the door on the Arizona Spartans, while
DONTE BRISTOL hit 3 threes for 9 points.

Christian: Nashom Carter 21 (5 reb, 10 ast, 1 blk, 5 stl), Jackson Larsen 18 (10 reb, 2 ast), Patrick Roberts 14 (5 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl), Donte Briston 9 (1 reb, 1 ast), Domenic Safarta 9 (5 reb, 7 ast).

GRANITE HILLS 67, MTN. VIEW CHRISTIAN 39 – Granite Hills took a 48-13 halftime lead without looking back in Thursday’s (Dec. 29) rout of host Mtn. View Christian of Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Invitational.

It was a widespread affair for the Eagles (7-4), who won only one of four tournament games.

CAMERON SPITZER set the tone for Granite Hills with 17 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals.

MOSES SMITH was tough inside the paint with 15 points and 8 rebounds.

RYAN KELLY also pounded the glass with 10 rebounds, while JORDEN ROGERS pitched in 10 points and 6 rebounds for the Eagles.

Granite Hills: Cameron Spitzer 17 (2 reb, 2 stl), Moses Smith 15 (8 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk), Jorden Rogers 10 (6 reb, 2 ast), Ryan Kelly 6 (10 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl), Xsavier Smith 6 (5 reb, 1 ast), Atticus Jordan 4 (3 reb, 1 ast), David Coffey 4 (4 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl), Aspen Fosee 3 (2 ast), Aaron Cobb 2 (2 reb), Austin Ballo (2 reb).

MOUNT MIGUEL 64, CALEXICO 60 – Steady DARIAN NORWOOD punched in 20 points and collected 14 rebounds to help the Matadors to a come-from-behind victory over the Calexico Bulldogs in Thursday’s (Dec. 29) Montgomery Tournament.

JAMES ALLEN pitched in 20 points, dished 7 assists and made 4 steals for Mount Miguel (6-8).

“Norwood and Allen carried us,” said Matadors coach JAY ROWLETT. “A win’s a win and we’ll take it. We’ll take a little break and get rested up and be ready to play Steele Canyon on Jan. 10.”

Mount Miguel: Darian Norwood 20 (14 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), James Allen 20 (7 ast, 4 stl), Ricky Harvey 8 (2 reb, 2 stl), Mikeece Dunbar 6 (1 stl), Marquise Edwards 6 (7 reb), Devon Brown 4 (4 reb), Mugabe Miller (2 reb, 1 stl), Marquis Neal (1 stl).

EL CAJON VALLEY 57, CALIPATRIA 52 – El Cajon Valley pounded Calipatria on the boards for 46 rebounds in Thursday’s (Dec. 29) Braves/Vaqueros Tournament.

As feisty as the Braves were coming out of the chute, they fell behind 10-0 in the first 90 seconds.

“I’m proud of the way our guys fought back,” said Braves coach SCOTTY JAMES. “Hopefully we can grab a couple more wins before we reach league play.”

On Tuesday (Jan. 3) the Braves will play Liberty Christian at 6 p.m. at Chula Vista.

El Cajon Valley: Greg Jones 18 (10 reb), Hasan Al-Hasan 11 (2 reb), Dmir Witherspoon 9 (10 reb), Isaac Blake 8 (8 reb), Rami Abdullah 8 (2 reb), Deon Davis 3 (3 reb), Jeremiah Davis 3 (3 reb).

MONTE VISTA 55, CHULA VISTA 47 – The Monte Vista Monarchs showed a different face as they clipped Chula Vista in Thursday’s (Dec. 29) Spartan Classic encounter.

Instead of letting DEONDRE McHAYLE run free, he took control of the ballclub.

“We tried him more of a facilitator tonight,” said Monarchs coach MIKE TULLY. “And he made some great passes. I thought he did a lot of things well. He gives our opponent something else to look at.”

Monte Vista took a 32-16 halftime lead but could not maintain the wide margin.

“They got it down to 3 points,” Tully said, “but just as they were closing in GABRIAL GALVEZ hit a bucket to push it back to 5 points.”

AMIR CONLEY was the only Monarch to finish with double digits although there was balanced scoring through the rest of the team.

The Monarchs will close the tournament on Friday (Dec. 30) at 10:30 a.m. against Huntington Park at the Spartan Classic.

Monte Vista: Amir Conley 13, Derrick Wiley 8, Deondre McHayle 7, Arman Johnson 7, David Garcia 7, Gabrial Galvez 7, Andrew Gonzales 2, Fernando Guererro 2, Hewa Ali 2.

BONITA VISTA 53, GROSSMONT 41 – The Foothillers appeared on their way to an easy victory in Thursday’s (Dec. 29) Spartan Classic in Chula Vista, but Bonita Vista burst into a 24-8 fourth quarter finish to change the outcome.

“We got more competitive in the fourth quarter but it was a little bit late by then,” said Foothillers coach FRANK FOGGIANO as the Spartans knocked out a 24-8 advantage.

None of the Foothillers scored in double digits.

Grossmont: Austin Odom 9 (3 reb), Damageae Gant 8 (4 reb, 1 stl), Hunter Mulder 7 (4 reb), Jamie Odom 6 (3 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), Hunter Gaines 6 (4 reb), Franklin Golojuch 3 (2 reb), Morgan Stidum 2 (1 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl).

BURROUGHS 54, HELIX 41 – The Helix Highlanders came out about as flat as they’ve been all season as they succumbed to Bakersfield Burroughs in Thursday’s (Dec. 29)
Mt. Carmel Tournament.

DYLEN LEE was the only Highlander to reach double digits.

Helix will host Downey at 2 p.m. in Friday’s (Dec. 30) final round of the Mt. Carmel Tournament.

Helix: Dylan Lee 12, Jaylen Hinson 7, Carson Baker 6, Kyree Woods 6, Jaylen Arnold 4, Amari Green 4, Jumar Wynn 2.

MID PAC 63, EL CAPITAN 42 – No further information provided for this SoCal Holiday Prep Classic game.

FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN 81, SAINT EDWARD (Lakewood, Ohio) 69 – JAYLEN HANDS scored 42 points and JORDAN VAN OMMERING added 19, as the Knights won at the Under Armour Classic against the previously unbeaten Eagles.

Hands had 32 points through three periods, as the Knights led by 10 heading into the final quarter of play.

Foothills opened the third on a 15-4 run after St. Edward had rallied to take the lead, 36-34, late in the first half.

The Knights had built an early 18-10 lead in the opening session.

FCHS advances to the championship game in the National Division Friday night at 8:30 against St. John’s (D.C.).

The Cadets are ranked seventh in Washington, D.C., and are led by guard Tre Wood and sophomore Casey Morsell.

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