Cougars royally win; Pats fall in Phoenix

By David Dickens
Updated: December 20, 2017

Christian prepares for its game on Tuesday in Phoenix.

2017 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

By Dave Dickens

EastCountySports.com

SAN DIEGO (12-19-17) – The Monarch Royals came into Tuesday’s contest with the Steele Canyon Cougars at 1-1, previously losing to Mission Bay a week ago 33-9.

Meanwhile, Steele Canyon was coming of a huge beating of Southwest San Diego, 53-4.

Holding any team to just 4 points is a huge step into the winning strategy.

There were a trio of leaders on Tuesday evening in the Cougars’ 51-21 rout of the Royals.

At the end of the 1st quarter, the Lady Cougars were already taking control as they put up 16 points of offense and held the Monarch Academy to just two buckets, 16-4.

Steele would get even stronger on both sides of the ball as they continued their domination, leading 35-8 at the halfway point.

Freshman MAHKAYLAH CLINE led the 1st half with 10 points for SC.

The 2nd half would just be a continued domination, with Steele putting up 13 in the 3rd and a conservative 4th quarter of just 3 points, but also held the Royals to only 13 total points, including 10 in the 3rd and shut down in the 4th with only 3 points.

“We played a solid game and were able to work on our sets in the 2nd half,” said Steele Canyon head coach PETER RUIZ JR.

Sophomore KHYLAYA BRANDY scored 13 total points, including a 3-pointer and a 2-for-2 night at the foul line, while senior ELIZABETH BOTT scored a total of 13 points.

Cline finished the evening with 11 total points, including 3-of-4 from the line.

The Lady Cougars (4-4) will take on the Brawley Wildcats (3-6) on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at Steele Canyon at 5:30 pm. The Lady Cougar defense will play a key role in defeating the Wildcats.

CHAPARRAL 86, CHRISTIAN 21 – Christian opened up the NIKE Tournament of Champions in Phoenix with one of the top Division 6A (big schools) Arizona state-ranked teams.

“Chaparral was loaded with three-point shooters and our game plan was to keep them off of the perimeter,” Christian coach VICKIE CARRINGTON said. “Normally they’ve hit 12-to-15 3’s in each game.

“We did a great job of forcing them to go to the basket since they hardly ever drive, but we did a terrible job of taking the lanes to the basket a way and actually playing defense.

The Patriots had a terrible shooting night, as three starters were on the bench for almost two quarters.

“Our team could not recover from having three key players on the bench,” Carrington said. “It was very unfortunate, but I had to make it clear to the ladies that being disciplined, playing fearlessly and that hustling and playing with heart were vital to us being able to compete at the NIKE TOC.

JASMYN CRAWFORD did all that she could to spark that the Patriots, but her efforts were not enough, although she led the team with 7 points.

The Lady Patriots never got their groove as leading scorers SIMONE JAMES, KRISTEN WILLIAMS, HANNAH RICAHRDON and RAELYN MUECA combined for just six points.

James led Christian (7-3) with 7 rebounds.

“We truly have a talented group, but they’re young and still learning,” Carrington said. “I knew we’d be in over our heads. Every team there is good, this is by an invitation only, so we knew we wouldn’t be playing any scrubs and there was a great chance we could come back winless.

“But the goal was and remains for our girls to compete regardless of who were playing.”

The Patriots play Westlake, out of Utah, next at the NIKE Tournament of Champion. The game is Wed. at 5 p.m.

Westlake lost to Bradshaw Christian, 41-38, in its opening bracket game.