ROUNDUP: Cougars bring thunder, stun Valhalla; El Cap in 1st

By Bill Dickens
Updated: January 25, 2017

Granite Hills and Monte Vista scramble for a loose ball Tuesday night in El Cajon. / photo by Dan Martin

2016-17 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com

EL CAJON (1-25-17) — To look at the record, one might get the idea that Steele Canyon is saddled with the job of playing catch-up in the Grossmont Hills League.

Oh sure, the Cougars (13-7, 1-1) are only one game behind front-running Helix (17-5, 2-0) and a half-game back of West Hills (6-8, 1-0) in league play.

Valhalla puts up a shot against Steele Canyon Tuesday night.

Thus the race is still up for grabs as Steele Canyon outlasted host Valhalla 70-58 on Tuesday (Jan. 24).

Steele Canyon’s GAGE SANDERS tossed in 21 points including a pair of treys, including NICK BARNS chipped in with 19 for the Cougars, while TYLER SMITH added 12 points.

As a team, Steele Canyon was deadly from the free throw line, hitting 18 of 22 charity shots.

“The officials were tough tonight,” said Cougars coach DEREK STEPHENS. “We had the lead all the way. We have been a little inconsistent early in the season, but now we are starting to play well.”

For Valhalla TY SCHIMKE led the Norsemen with 21 points, hitting 5 of 6 free throws.

KAI KOMAKI pumped in 16 points, including 4 treys, while MALIQUE SHAW added 11.

Not to be overlooked was Valhalla’s free throw shooting, which was 17 made of 25 attempts.

Meanwhile, the West Hills at Steele Canyon game, postponed from Jan. 20, has been rescheduled for Wednesday (Feb. 1) at 6:30 p.m. There will be a double-header with the girls’ (at 5 p.m.) and the boys’ games that night.

Steele Canyon: Gage Sanders 21, Nick Barns 19, Tyler Smith 12, De’Angelo Lewis 8, Jalen Sayles 4, Kobe Sanders 3, Thomas Fishburne 3.

Valhalla: Ty Shimke 21, Kai Komaki 16, Malique Shaw 11, Ramzi Sultan 8, Austin Pola 2.

HELIX 69, GROSSMONT 38 – Helix pounced on Grossmont 18-2 in the first quarter of Tuesday’s (Jan. 24) Grossmont Hills League game.

“And that was just about it,” said Helix coach JOHN SINGER. “They tried to run the clock, but we played outstanding defense.”

Of course, having a 6-foot-9 post man, MILES NORRIS, helps fortify the Highlanders’ defense.

“If our guys miss a play at least we know we have Norris back there to blanket the basket,” Singer said.

Singer noted that Mater Dei played a 1-3-1 defense when they played them down in South Bay.

“They play man for us,” the coach added.

Norris finished the romp over Grossmont with a game-high 17 points.

JALEN HINSON tossed in 12 more points for Helix, while DYLAN LEE added 10.

DAMAGEAE GANT pitched in 10 points and 7 rebounds for Grossmont, while JAMIE ODOM knocked down 10 points including 5 for 5 free throw shooting.

“We played hard. Helix is just a better team now,” said Foothillers coach FRANK FOGGIANO.

Helix: Miles Norris 17, Jaylen Hinson 12, Dylan Lee 10, Amari Green 9, Carson Baker 9, Isaiah Wooden 5, Joequan Branch 3, Jaylen Arnold 2, Kevin Howard 2.

Grossmont: Damageae Gant 10 (7 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl), Jamie Odom 10 (4 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), Austin Odom 5 (3 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), Desain Crawford 5 (1 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), Morgan Stidum 4 (2 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl), Hunter Mulder 4 (5 reb, 1 stl).

GRANITE HILLS 68, MONTE VISTA 48 – Once again DEONDRE McHAYLE was a one-man show in Tuesday’s (Jan. 24) Grossmont Valley League encounter with Granite Hills.

“We were right there with them, 26-25 at the half, one point down,” said the Monarchs coach MIKE TULLY.

Granite Hills and Monte Vista wait for a shot on Tuesday night. / photo by Dan Martin

McHayle scored 29 points for the Monarchs, including 3 treys, as Monte Vista worked its way back from an early 13-2 deficit.

“He was pretty hot at the beginning, nailing 21 points in the first half. After that he seemed to tire out, got only 7 in the second half,” said Tully.

For the Eagles, however, it was the SMITH twins – MOSES and XSAVIER – who combined for 39 points themselves to secure the victory.

“Moses Smith and Xsavier Smith both had big games,” said Eagles coach RANDY ANDERSON. “They did a nice job finishing around the basket, and they both had career highs tonight.”

RYAN KELLY finished with a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds, while CAMERON SPITZER popped in 10 points, grabbed 3 rebounds and dished 3 assists.

Granite Hills: Moses Smith 23 (4 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk, 4 stl), Xsavier Smith 16 (7 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk, 3 stl), Ryan Kelly 11 (13 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl), Cameron Spitzer 10 (3 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl), Jorden Rogers 3 (3 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl), Austin Ballo 3, Aaron Cobb 2 (1 reb, 1 blk), Atticus Jordan (1 stl), Cody Cox (1 reb).

Monte Vista: Deondre McHayle 29, Amir Conley 7, Derrick Wiley 5, David Garcia 4, Arman Johnson 2, Gabrial Galvez 2.

MOUNT MIGUEL 70, EL CAJON VALLEY 32 – A 22-2 run for Mount Miguel in the third quarter staked the Matadors to an easy victory in Tuesday’s (Jan. 24) Grossmont Valley League action.

It was a high-scoring affair for the Matadors, who were never halted in their quest for the victory circle.

Mount Miguel takes a three-point shot against El Cajon Valley Tuesday night.

DARIAN NORWOOD led the Matadors with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, while MARQUIS NEAL also hit 14 on their way to a 49-13 halftime lead.

MARQUISE EDWARDS also rolled a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while MIKEECE DUNBAR added 10 points.

GREG JONES led the Braves with 11 points, including a pair of threes.

Mount Miguel: Darian Norwood 14 (10 reb, 1 stl), Marquis Neal 14 (1 reb, 2 ast), Marquise Edwards 11 (12 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), Mikeece Dunbar 10, Ricky Harvey 7 (4 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), Justice Chima 5 (1 reb), James Allen 4 ( 1 reb, 5 ast), Raymond Lucas 3 (1 reb, 1 stl), Devon Brown 1 (3 reb), Mugabe Miller (1 reb, 1 ast, 3 stl).

El Cajon Valley: Greg Jones 11, Dmir Witherspoon 8, Unknown 8, Jordan Bradley 4.

CHRISTIAN 71, CRAWFORD 40 – East County scoring leader NASHOM CARTER drilled in 26 points to hoist the Christian High Patriots into an early lead they never lost in Tuesday’s (Jan. 24) Central League action.

The Patriots are 4-2 going into the second round of league.

“We need to make a big push to get a high seed in the playoffs,” said Patriots assistant coach TIM BROWN.

DOMANIC SAFARTA nailed 4 three-pointers on his way to 14 points, while JACKSON LARSEN chipped in with 10 points and 7 rebounds.

JACKSON LARSEN added 10 points and 7 rebounds for the Patriots, while PATRICK ROBERTS had 9 rebounds and 2 blocks

Christian: NaShom Carter 26 (5 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl), Domanic Safarta 14 (2 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl), Jackson Larsen 10 (7 reb, 1 ast, 2 blk), Daniel Welch 8 (7 reb, 1 stl), Patrick Roberts 6 (9 reb, 2 blk), Jake Scarbrough 3 (1 reb, 2 ast), Jack Mason (3 reb, 1 ast), Javier Jimenez (1 stl).

EL CAPITAN 47, SANTANA 42 – The El Capitan Vaqueros have stormed out to the lead to take early control of the Grossmont Valley League race.

NICK BERHALTER led the Santana Sultans with 9 points and 8 rebounds, while SIMONE MARITANO pitched in 8 points in Tuesday’s (Jan. 24) Grossmont Valley League game.

However, the Vaqueros all of a sudden are 3-0 in league play after a rough start during the preseason, in which they lost their first 12 games.

JOHN BOBOF chipped in with 8 points and 5 rebounds, and BRANDON SIMMONS and ANDREW HITCHCOCK each added 6.

Santana could not fire up its offense and El Capitan capitalized for a 47-42 victory.

JAKOB LOPEZ led all scorers with 13 points for the Vaqueros, while teammates REN NUEHOFF added 12 points and CHASE LOVATO had 10.

Santana: Nick Berhalter 9 (8 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 2 blk), Simone Maritano 8 (3 reb, 1 ast, 3 stl), John Bobof 8 (5 reb), Brandon Simmons 6 (6 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl), Andrew Hitchcock 6 (2 reb, 1 stl), TC Simmons 3 (3 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl), Zach Leggitt 2 (3 reb), Cole Kincade (1 stl).

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