Panela sinks game-winner for Pack against Poway

By ECS Staff
Updated: December 17, 2015

2015-16 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

By Adam Paul
© East County Sports.com

SAN DIEGO (12-17-15) — Things didn’t look good early on for the West Hills Wolf Pack against the host Poway Titans in the East Division of the Winter Prep Classic, Wednesday (Dec. 16) but they were able to overcome a couple of obstacles and win an instant classic of a thriller 35-34.

The Titans who are always a perennial power in the North County showed why in the first quarter as they outplayed the Wolf Pack en route to a 10-4 lead. However a lightbulb went off and West Hills marched their way back into the contest as they were able to claw within 7 at 21-14 at the break.

The spark that the Wolf Pack used in the second quarter stayed with them in the third quarter as they were able to outscore the Titans 12-4 to take the slim 26-25 lead heading into the final stanza.

The final quarter would be one that really gave the fans their monies worth as both teams went back and forth. It wouldn’t be until the final minute that the game was finally decided.

Panela

The Titans would lead by 3 with under a minute to play. Now facing a deficit, the Wolf Pack were able to score when CLARISA HOLDER was fouled and would go the line and calmly sink both free throws for her only points. Still trailing, West Hills was able to hold the Titans and things got more interesting as VIVIAN PANELA would give the Wolf Pack the lead by one with a layup with 30 seconds remaining.

Poway had another shot as the Wolf Pack fouled with 14 seconds remaining. They shot foul shots and sank both to retake the lead by 35-34. West Hills would get one last shot and take full advantage of it as Panela took the inbounds and scored for the game winning shot.

“It was an ugly game in terms of execution, Poway does a great job of taking away what you want to do. Both teams played extremely hard,” said West Hills coach RYAN KINSER, referring to both teams and the game play.

Leading the Wolf Pack was Panela, who scored 13 points.

West Hills: Vivian Panela 13 (2 reb, 3 ast, 4 stl), Megan Scott 6 (6 reb, 3 ast, 4 stl), Carly Raley 6 (3 reb, 1 stl), Kerrie Daniels 4 (5 reb, 3 stl), Clarissa Holder 2 (2 stl), Jessica Fondas 2 (3 reb), Maya Clemons 2 (1 reb).

GROSSMONT 53, PATRICK HENRY 42 – The undefeated Grossmont Foothillers toppled Patrick Henry in Wednesday’s (Dec. 16) Mustang Tournament.

Junior TAISHA SILAS popped in 20 points, including shooting 4 of 8 from the 3-point mark.

ATHENA SOTELO chipped in with 13 points on 6 of 9 shooting from the field, one free throw, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.

The Foothillers got 9 points and 10 rebounds from EMILY BARNES to lead the supporting cast, and SYMONE GRIFFITH pitched in 9 points as well.

“It’s great to see multiple players score and contribute to each win,” said Foothillers coach GRACE CAMPBELL. “These wins have been a great team effort thus far. We continue to take each game one game at a time.”

Grossmont: Taishe Silas 20 (5 reb, 1 stl), Athena Sotelo 13 (6 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl), Symone Griffith 9, Candace Henderson 5 (3 reb), Emily Barnes 2 (10 reb, 1 stl), Jasmine Lee 2 (3 reb), Tassina Lee 2 (2 reb).

— BILL DICKENS

MOUNT MIGUEL 59, SANTA FE CHRISTIAN 49 – The Mount Miguel Matadors made it look easy as they stormed in front of Santa Fe Christian 32-21 by intermission in Wednesday’s (Dec. 16) Winter Prep Classic – East Division.

SATERA BATES knocked down 5 treys on her way to a game high 22 points for the Matadors (4-2).

LAILA SMITH turned in a career best game with 19 points, hitting 8 of 10 free throws. She also grabbed 5 rebounds, dished 5 scoring passes and made 5 steals.

DESTINI ANDERSON chalked up 8 points – half of which came on 4-for-4 shooting at the free throw line – to go along with 7 rebounds.

“Obviously we jumped on them early,” said Matadors coach ROBBIE SANDOVAL. “But basically we’ve been a lackadaisical group that’s just been going through the motions. We’re a team that needs leadership.”

Mount Miguel: Satera Bates 22 (5 reb), Laila Smith 19 (5 reb, 4 ast, 5 stl), Destini Anderson 8 (7 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl), Amber Hard 7 (7 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl), Camara Douglas 4 (6 reb, 2 blk), Kiara Morris (1 reb, 2 stl).

— BILL DICKENS

EL CAJON VALLEY 41, CHRISTIAN 38 – LEANNA WATSON was on fire with 27 points to carry El Cajon Valley to a non-league victory on Wednesday (Dec. 16) at Christian High.

Watson buried a trio of triples for the Braves, who improved to 2-0. Of her game-leading totals, 21 points came in the second half as the Braves erased a 17-12 deficit.

“We led by 10 points in the third quarter then stalled offensively,” said Patriots coach TIFFANY GILES. “The Watson girl was very tough. We put a box-and-one on her but we only had seven players in uniform and eventually we got too tired.

MARISSA GILES paced the Patriots with 15 points.

“Number 13 for Christian (Marissa Giles) was pretty good,” said Braves coach CARLOS MOSS. “She had 15 points.”

Not to be overlooked for the Patriots was HAYLEY ROBINSON who grabbed 16 rebounds in a losing cause.

El Cajon Valley: Leanna Watson 27, Titishia Clemons 6, Sumaya Hameed 6, Farah Kannan 2.

Christian: Marissa Giles 15 (1 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl), Alyssa Rothrock 6 (3 reb), Brooke Owens 9 (1 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl), Sage Salacup 5 (1 reb), Jasmyn Crawford (1 reb, 3 stl), Hayley Robinson 3 (16 reb).

— BILL DICKENS

RANCHO BERNARDO 54, HELIX 42 – Helix played chase all night in Wednesday’s (Dec. 16) West Division of the Winter Prep Classic at Rancho Bernardo.

“It was a pretty long night for us because we never closed the gap,” said Highlanders’ coach PATRICK TABOR.

DANIELLE SIMMONS was one of the few high points for Helix, knocking down 13 points and grabbing 9 rebounds.

“I’m not gonna complain,” Tabor said. “We’re still a work in progress.”

Helix will play Crossroads Thursday (Dec. 17) at The Bishop’s at 7:30.

Helix: Danielle Simmons 13 (9 reb), Cam Owens 9 (4 ast), Garrett 9, Smith 6, Kaliah King 3, Jazmyne Turner 2.

— BILL DICKENS

OCEANSIDE 39, MONTE VISTA 25 – The struggling Monte Vista Monarchs came up short against Oceanside in Wednesday’s (Dec. 16) Mustang Tournament in North County.

“We have our defense together and held another team that usually scores in the 50 and 60 point range to 39,” noted Monarchs coach MEGAN FORBELL. “We are still working on putting points on the board but we are starting to look more like a team.”

Monte Vista: Kyria Whitley 8, Mariah Whitehead 7, Cassie Calderon 5, Cierra Ross 2, Sewit Tefamicael 2, Marina Rankins 1.

— BILL DICKENS