Bickford leads Pats; Sharks top Matadors

By David Dickens
Updated: December 28, 2021

2021-22 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

CHRISTIAN 61, SOUTHWEST (EL CENTRO) 21 – The Patriots defeated the Eagles at the Crown Holiday event on Monday to secure their second win of the season as Tiffany Bickford scored a career-high 25 points for Christian.

Bickford went 5-for-6 from three-point range and also made 6-of-7 foul shots. She also added five steals.

Bickford’s previous high was 24 points at El Capitan as a sophomore.

“I think we needed this game 100 percent and we played really well as a team and looked for each other,” Bickford said. “It felt good to play like how I should always be playing, I needed it for my confidence to know that I can be a major scorer. It felt good to play like this because I think it hyped everyone up and we got closer together from it. Arizona was good for us and brought us closer together even though our whole team wasn’t there. We needed that tournament to prove to ourselves we could play with top-level teams. Overall, our season is turning around I think and I’m always proud of my teammates no matter what happens. They’re a great group of girls who know how to play.”

Christian led 15-6 at the end of the first quarter. The Patriots put forth their prowess in the fourth quarter, outscoring Southwest, 26-2.

Alyssa Spears finished with 11 points for the Patriots, as she made 3-of-4 three-point tries. She also had four assists and three steals.

“We played well tonight as a team,” Spears said. “This game specifically was a great showcase of how far we have come and I think the teamwork shows it. Being able to set up the offense effectively was a huge confidence boost for myself and the team as we were scoring across the board. I felt good being able to look for my shot and I’m glad I got to help out and put some points on the board.”

Jp Melvin finished with 10 points for the Pats, while also corraling five boards.

Noelle Sanchez added seven points for CHS, also swiping four steals.

“I didn’t put as many points on the board as I have been so our game plan is always if I’m not scoring enough play defense,” Christian’s Haley Whitman said. “I personally love defense and feel it is the most important part of the game, so if that is where I can help my team that is where I try to thrive. The Arizona tournament was an awesome experience for the team. We definitely bonded together and learned a lot more about each other. As a player, it was great for my confidence to see that I was competing well with those high-level players. Overall, I am so proud of the way this team is battling back from the rocky start.”

SANTIAGO 48, MOUNT MIGUEL 45 – The Mount Miguel Matadors and Santiago Sharks played a ridiculously close game at The Matadome on Monday night.

The teams were rarely separated by more than a few baskets as the Sharks, from Corona, claimed a 48-45 victory.

A 25-22 first-half advantage for the visitors would be the difference in this one. And the fact that the Matadors were without their leading scorer.

The win for Santiago (9-4) still ranks as a bit of an upset in the computer’s algorithm, as the county’s second-ranked team fell to the visitors from the Southern Section.

KK Luffborough continued her strong play, scoring 15 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and recording four steals for Mount Miguel (8-3)

Nataly Bravo helped the Matadors with nine points, including a pair of three-pointers.

Danay Williams-Pope finished with eight points and 10 boards for MMHS.

Mount Miguel’s Ixchel Rojo added seven points, four assists, and three steals.

Yaneli Rosales, of Las Matadoras, had five points and a pair of assists, while teammate Zanna Hurst had two points and four rebounds.

HELIX 36, CHULA VISTA 35 – The Highlanders won against the Spartans on Monday in a tight contest throughout at the 39th Aztec Tournament.

Helix led 16-15 at halftime and enjoyed a 12-8 edge in the fourth quarter to earn the victory.

For the Highlanders, the win was their third of the season in five starts.

RANCHO BUENA VISTA 50, EL CAPITAN 45 – El Capitan slipped to 5-10 on the season after the loss to the visiting Longhorns in a tournament contest at the San Diego Prep Holiday Classic.

Natalie Danks, of the Vaqueros, scored 11 points and had 12 rebounds.

El Cap trailed 9-0 early but battled back behind three three-pointers from Danks, including back-to-back treys in the fourth that helped the Vaqueros claw to within 50-44.

SHADOW HILLS 69, MONTE VISTA 44 – The Knights, out of Indio, remained unbeaten with the victory at the Gold Crown Tournament.

Monte Vista fell to 8-5 overall.