GIRLS: Patriots move to NIKE division final

By Ramon Scott
Updated: December 22, 2019

Santana senior Briana Jerig / photo by Ken Todd

2019 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

CHRISTIAN 58, OREGON CITY 46 – The second-ranked Christian High Patriots won in the semifinals of the Dan Division at the NIKE Tournament of Champions at Marcos de Niza High School in Arizona, defeating Oregon City thanks to a dominating third-quarter effort.

Senior Simone James scored 14 of her 20 points in the second half for the Patriots, while teammate Allie Carreon added 16 points for the Patriots.

KoKo Akrdige had a three-pointer in the first quarter to give Christian an early 7-6 lead, then a few minutes later, Carreon drilled a three to regain the lead again at 13-11.

James had a field goal late in the second quarter, as Christian led 22-20 at halftime.

Christian came out hot in the third quarter, hitting a series of field goals in the first two minutes, including a triple from Amaya Howard to help the Lady Pats move ahead 29-20. Howard hit a second three-pointer later in the period.

WEST HILLS 51, EL CAJON VALLEY 31 – The Wolf Pack trailed, 7-5, after one period after going 1-for-15 from the field but the Wolf Pack went on a 20-9 push in the second quarter to take a 25-16 lead into intermission.

Anastasia Timothy had 17 points for West Hills, while teammate Paige Evans, a senior, had a pair of three-pointers in the second quarter as part of the rush.

The Wolf Pack’s Caitlyn Stayner, a senior point guard, finished 12 points. She had a three-pointer in the second and third quarters.

“I feel like we played really well against El Cajon Valley,” Stayner said. “They were a strong team to play against but I think that we all played hard and came together to win.”

Katie Caires added eight points for the Wolf Pack.

“We started off very slow obviously in the first quarter,” West Hills head coach Ryan Kinser said. “We settled down and played our style of basketball in the second quarter. We had a nice fourth-quarter to put them away. El Cajon played tough, I was impressed. Anastasia Timothy and Caitlyn Stayner both played well.”

El Cajon Valley got 12 points, four rebounds and four assists from senior Vean Gorgees

Ruth Taulanga, a freshman, had eight points, two blocked shots, and eight rebounds, while junior Fineita Taulanga had six points and 10 rebounds for the Braves.

Tarry Flournoy and Silvia Aboud both had seven rebounds for El Cajon Valley.

GROSSMONT 55, SANTANA 37 – The Foothillers led just 9-8 after one quarter but Grossmont eventually pulled away for the win in an El Cajon Valley Winter Classic game.

Grossmont was led by senior Sarah Henry, who scored 15 points and had 10 rebounds, and junior Anyssa Chargualaf, who added 13 points.

The Sultans were down by just five points at the half but finished the game with 32 turnovers.

“You don’t win too many games with that number,” Santana head coach Jordan Franey said. “I have so much respect for Grossmont and Coach Campbell and to have an opportunity to play against the best is important to us.”

Briana Jerig had 13 points and six steals for the Sultans, while Bella Terry had nine points, six rebounds and a pair of blocks.

Sophomore Mckenzee Purnell and freshman Dominece Silvels both added eight points for the Hillers. Sivels also grabbed seven rebounds.

Santana got a team-high nine rebounds from freshman Taylinn Warren.

The Sultans’ Joey Barkheimer, a junior, had four points, four rebounds, three steals, and two assists.

“I’m in sort of a weird place as a coach with feelings of pride and frustration,” Franey said. “We have been doing an incredible job these past few weeks of kicking things up a notch and I have seen tremendous growth and success on the floor in a lot of areas.

“We played so hard defensively however our turnovers were an absolute killer to any momentum we gained from the defense. That’s the frustrating part of coaching, seeing the want and desire to run in transition and run out sets but turning the ball over before we even give ourselves a chance. We are going to keep working and holding ourselves accountable. I think the kids recognizing more and more the value of the basketball and the value of quality possessions.”

HELIX 52, MADISON 40 – At the Crawford Tournament, sophomore Ariy’Ana Duke poured in 24 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and had three steals for the Highlanders on 12-of-17 shooting.

Junior Selena Soloman added nine points and five rebounds for Helix.

Junior Samanoah Betts added five rebounds and five assists for Helix.

Helix led just 24-23 at halftime but outscored the Warhawks, 18-6, over the third quarter.

EL CAJON VALLEY 40, PATRICK HENRY 30 – At the Valley Brave Classic tourney, junior Fineita Taulanga turned in a career effort with 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Braves, nearly outscoring the Patriots by herself.

Senior Vean Gorgees added seven points and six assists for El Cajon Valley.

Junior Silvia Aboud added 10 rebounds and four assists for the Braves, while senior teammate Tarry Flournoy added eight boards.

Freshman Ruth Taulanga had nine rebounds.

The Braves actually rallied from an early 8-5 deficit but led 20-11 at halftime.

CLASSICAL ACADEMY 49, STEELE CANYON 41 – The Caimans used an 18-9 third-quarter advantage to pull away from the Cougars in the Brave Winter Classic event.

The Cougars trailed just 24-21 at halftime.

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