Eagles, Highlanders extend win streaks

By Ramon Scott
Updated: January 29, 2020

2020 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

EL CAJON – The Granite Hills Eagles knocked off the Monte Vista Monarchs, 68-49, in a Grossmont Valley League contest on Tuesday night to win their eighth consecutive game and remain undefeated in league play.

Deon Spear scored 22 points to lead the Eagles, which jumped out to a 20-3 lead.

Granite Hills senior McKay Roberts added 17 points, including a pair of early three-point field goals. He also had seven assists and four steals.

“We were able to come together and break the press and get some easy buckets,” Roberts said.

The Eagles’ John Vrzich added 14 points and five assists.

Caleb Erickson had a three-pointer for the Eagles.

Six Eagles finished with five-plus rebounds.

“We started the game playing good defense,” Granite Hills head coach Dan Duffy said. “Monte Vista always plays hard, tonight was no different, they force a lot of turnovers. We didn’t shoot well on threes or at the line, but our defense and energy were solid. Mckay played through an ankle issue from Friday’s game and Deon finished well at the basket.”

Granite Hills ran its record to 4-0 in league and 11-9 overall.

The Monarchs fell to 2-2 in the GVL and 13-10 overall.

Granite Hills will travel down the street to face El Cajon Valley on Friday at 7.

EL CAJON VALLEY 59, EL CAPITAN 58 – The El Cajon Valley Braves held off the El Capitan Vaqueros in a Grossmont Valley League game in Lakeside on Tuesday evening.

The Braves led 28-20 at halftime and 47-41 after three quarters.

The Vaqueros tied the game with a three-pointer with 25 seconds left in the contest, but a foul on the Braves’ next possession sent El Cajon Valley to the line where it converted a game-deciding free throw.

Senior Jake Pfitzner led El Capitan with 29 points and 13 rebounds. He also recorded a pair of steals.

Junior R.J. Lugtu added nine points for the Vaqueros, while sophomore teammate Daisean Desinor finished with eight points.

El Capitan freshman Micah Odell had nine rebounds.

Vaquero senior Harrison Morton ended with six assists.

The win gave ECV its first Grossmont Valley League win of the season.

The Vaqueros trailed by 15 late in the 3rd quarter.

“We did not shoot the three-ball particularly well tonight and it hurt us,” El Capitan head coach Elias Totah said. “We started the game lethargic. Lack of energy, lack of focus. We just have to learn and grow from this. We have to get back to work again and move forward. Nothing else we can do.”

WEST HILLS 59, VALHALLA 48 – Senior Kyle Dobyns scored 14 of his team-high 16 points in the second half for the visiting Wolf Pack, who improved to 3-2 in the Grossmont Hills League.

Ashton Avestro had a three-pointer in the first quarter which gave the Wolf Pack a 7-2 lead. Avestro finished with nine points and five assists in the game.

Joe Avalos had a pair of three-pointers for the Norsemen in the first that helped close the lead to 13-11.

The score was 16-13 after one quarter.

The Wolf Pack’s Brendan Greene made a three-pointer in the second quarter as West Hills opened up a 25-18 advantage, but Valhalla’s Alton Hanish countered with a three of his own, then he made a two-point field goal as the Norsemen trailed, 25-23.

Hanish finished with 14 points.

West Hills led 28-23 at the break.

Avalos’ third three-pointer of the game kept the Norsemen in range of West Hills at 29-26 early in the third.

Avalos had a game-high 17 points.

Dobyns heated up in the third quarter, scoring nine points, as the Pack led 40-34 after three quarters.

Dobyns and teammate Cash Creighton combined to make seven free throws in the fourth quarter. Creighton made all of his four free throws late and had five rebounds in the contest.

Dobyns also finished with five rebounds.

Jayden Moreno scored 12 points for West Hills.

“We shared the ball very well tonight as you can see the balanced scoring,” West Hills head coach Tim Barry said. “This was our best defensive effort in league. If we continue to grow and mature and grab a few more wins, maybe we can make a little noise in D-3 playoffs.”

The loss for Valhalla ended its second-game winning streak.

HELIX 84, STEELE CANYON 32 – Senior Maurice Holmes led the Scotties with 17 points as Helix extended its winning streak to ten games.

Senior Nick Carlson, of the Highlanders, scored 14 points as four Helix players finished in double figures in the win over the Cougars in Spring Valley.

Carlson had a pair of three-pointers in the second quarter and another pair of treys in the fourth.

Isaiah Robinson had 12 points for Helix.

Sammy Stewart added 11 points for the Highlanders.

Keishon Trice came home with eight points for the Scots.

Sophomore Arthur Simpson led Steele Canyon with nine points, as eight Cougars registered at least two points in the game.

The Highlanders improved to 17-6 overall. Helix is 5-0 in the Grossmont Hills League.

Helix is at Valhalla on Friday at 7.

GROSSMONT 69, MOUNT MIGUEL 41 – Grossmont led 21-11 and continued on for the Grossmont Hills League road victory over the Matadors.

The Foothillers improved to 3-2 in the league.

Grossmont led 40-24 at halftime.

The Foothills led 55-29 at the end of three periods.

Grossmont will host Steele Canyon on Friday at 7 in a GHL contest.