Monarchs are title challenger to Sultans

By Ramon Scott
Updated: January 30, 2019

Monte Vista puts up a shot against Santana on Tuesday evening. / photo by Dave Dickens

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

SPRING VALLEY – The Monte Vista Monarchs remained alive for the Grossmont Valley League championship by knocking off previously league unbeaten Santana on Tuesday.

The Monarchs ran up a 29-16 halftime lead but held on against a frenetic finish from the Sultans.

Monte Vista won its fourth-straight game and improved to 5-2 in the Grossmont Hills League to pull to within one game of first-place Santana (6-1).

Senior SARA TAHA had a length-of-the-court drive and basket for a layup late in the second quarter which gave Monte Vista a 27-16 lead with under a minute to go until halftime.

**Monte Vista “sits” on the ball on Tuesday night.** / *photo by Dave Dickens*

Taha scored 11 of her 20 points in the second quarter.

Senior ALYSSA MEDRANO had three three-pointers in the contest.

Although the Monarchs only scored four points in the fourth quarter, Medrano’s trey proved to be key.

Junior LAKAILA AQUININGOC-DAVID scored 13 points and had two steals for Santana.

“The second quarter was rough, nothing we shot went in,” Aquiningoc-Dvid said. “Everything they threw up went in which was frustrating and I think we let that get to us a little.

“In the second half, I think that’s when we really started understanding that time was running out and we needed to put everything we had into the game.

“We just came up a bit short because we started too late. This loss was a rough one especially knowing what’s on the line. But don’t get me wrong, we’ll be in the gym working for our next game versus Steele Canyon.”