Cavers end Norsemen championship drive

By Ramon Scott
Updated: February 22, 2019

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

SAN DIEGO CIF DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP

SAN DIEGO 75, VALHALLA 56

EastCountySports.com staff report

MIRA MESA – The historic season of the Valhalla High boys basketball team came to an end on Thursday night, as the second-seeded Norsemen dropped a 75-56 decision to a terrific-looking San Diego High team in the San Diego CIF Division III championship game at Mira Mesa High.

Valhalla senior EVAN O’NEILL carried the banner for “Three-Ball-Halla” in the final, making five three-pointers for a co-team-high 15 points.

O’Neill and sophomore JOE AVALOS made treys in the first quarter as the teams remained close over the first five minutes, but the Cavers led by 10 points after one quarter.

Avalos had another three-pointer late in the third quarter but San Diego built a 25-point lead heading into the fourth.

Avalos knocked down a trio of three-pointers early in the fourth to help drop the deficit back under 20. He also finished with 15 points.

The Cavers’ Jaliel Jackson (28 points) and A.J. Burgin Jr. were nothing short of spectacular in the championship game.

It was the second-straight section title for San Diego High, which won the D4 banner last year. It was also the team’s 12th-straight victory.

Valhalla senior DOMANIC SAFARTA, held scoreless in the first half for the second-straight game, found his scoring streak in the second half. His field goal surge in the fourth, including a deep straight-away three that closed the Caver lead to 70-52 with 3:41 left in the game.

Valhalla was playing without the services of head coach KEITH JACKSON, who is getting ready for his wedding this weekend.

Senior MICAH CAMPOS won the Sportsmanship Award for Valhalla.

EastCountySports.com