Prep Hoops Wrap (B&G) for Fri., Feb. 10

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: February 11, 2023

2022-23 EAST COUNTY PREP BASKETBALL / BOYS & GIRLS

ECS staff report

EL CAJON – Highlights and notes from Friday’s high school basketball games:

Boys Basketball

Helix 72, Granite Hills 51 – The Highlanders wrapped up the Grossmont Hills League crown with a perfect 8-0 slate after pounding the visiting Eagles at Caledonia Gymnasium. The Scotties mounted a 25-point lead in coasting down the stretch.

Senior guard Eli Green registered a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists, including five helpers in the fourth quarter in a much-needed performance after the Scotties, reportedly lost a key player to a foot injury sustained in Thursday’s team practice — terrible timing considering the CIFSDS playoffs start next week.

Green had an opportunity with a rare points-assists-steals triple-double, but “only” recorded seven thefts.

Meanwhile, Jackson Daniels tallied 15 of his team-best 18 points in the first half, when Helix (17-11 overall, 8-0 GHL) mounted a 46-25 lead at the intermission.

Valhalla 67, Grossmont 43 – The Norsemen(16-11, 5-3)clinched second place in the GHL by handing the Foothillers (1-25, 0-8) their 25th straight setback.

SD-High Tech 51, Monte Vista 50 – The Monarchs, (11-17, 3-5 GHL) which has the GHL bye, were nipped on the road by the host Storm (19-8) at Liberty Station.

Steele Canyon 84, El Capitan 77 – Steele Canyon (16-12 overall, 9-1 GVL) needed to win to claim the Grossmont Valley League crown out-right, barely clinging against the Vaqueros at Foster Gym. The league crown for the Cougars was a bit surprising following a poor 2-6 start to the season.

El Capitan (19-9 5-5 GVL) held a 4-point halftime lead, but Steele Canyon exploded with 56 second-half points, including a season-best 32 in the third quarter, preventing the Vaqueros from reaching the 20-victory plateau.

West Hills 71, ECVHS 37 – Considering the fast start to their season — featuring a school-record 16-game winning streak — the Wolf Pack (23-4 overall, 8-2 GVL) finished second in the Grossmont Valley, but finally looked ready for the playoffs after stopping the Braves (5-19, 0-10 GVL).

Zeid Salem paced the Pack with 17 points and Vince Hillman hit for 12, as 8 different players connected for 5 or more points in the romp.

Ramona 89, Rancho Buena Vista 70 – Ramona may no longer be “just” a football school anymore. On Friday, the Bulldogs claimed their second league crown in three seasons, taking the title in the debut season of the new North County Coastal League (not to be confused with the small-school division Coastal League where Foothills Christian plays).

Santana 63, Mount Miguel 55 – No report.

Christian 65, Valley Center 46 -No report.

Other scores:
Hoover 78, Patrick Henry 69
Liberty Charter 88, Preuss UCSD 42

Girls Basketball

Patrick Henry 41, Hoover 32 – If Hoover had won on Senior Night, the mid-0range playoff seeds in two CIF playoffs divisions could’ve turned into a wild scramble, especially after the Cardinals limited Patrick Henry to just three points in the first period.

However, the Patriots (15-13 overall, 8-2 league) corrected their mistakes to take a halftime lead, then survived Hoover’s terrible shooting night — their shot chart listed an amazing 26 missed layins!

Tara Johnson powered the Pats with 15 points, while center Mackenzie Nabors added 14 points and 9 rebounds, allowing the ballclub to clinch second place in the City League behind University City. The triumph also moved the Patriots above the .500 mark for the first time all season on the closing night of the regular season.

Granite Hills 61, Santana 19 – Granite Hills posts a perfect 10-0 sweep to the Grossmont Valley League title. Santana scored its fewest number of points this century, one lower than 20, which occurred in 2015-16 at Hilltop, and 2018-19 to Calvin Christian

Considering how successful the Sultans were in the 20th Century under Hall of Fame coach Wade Vickery, the total of 19 is probably a forgetful school record.

No Reports

ECVHS 44, West Hills 39
Mount Miguel 74, Helix 43
Grossmont 54, El Capitan 43
Rancho Buena Vista 45, Ramona 40
Steele Canyon at Valhalla – Nothing reported, even the score!