Eloquent Eagles pen winning Senior Night script

By Ramon Scott
Updated: February 10, 2016

Granite Hills seniors are honored with family members before Tuesday night’s home game against West Hills.

2015-16 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL

By Ramon Scott
© East County Sports.com

EL CAJON (2-10-16) — The Granite Hills girls basketball team spent a little extra time writing their speeches for their Senior Night introductions prior to Tuesday night’s (Feb. 9) key Grossmont Hills League contest with visiting West Hills.

After the Granite Hills upperclassmen players thanked their family, friends, teachers and coaches with well-spoken soliloquies, the West Hills Wolf Pack were able to quiet the Eagles on offense in the first half, grinding out a 14-13 edge at intermission.

Carly Raley, of West Hills, goes up for the ball against Granite Hills Tuesday evening in El Cajon. / EastCountySports.com photo

Granite Hills stopped reflecting and got to work in the second half, coming out to a fast start to take the lead after halftime and never trailed again in a 31-27 win over the Wolf Pack to remain atop the standings with Mount Miguel.

The Eagles forced a five-second count on an inbounds play, then West Hills committed a shot clock violation on the ensuing possession. The Pack’s next shot was blocked by the Eagles, as Granite Hills converted for a pair of baskets and a 22-16 lead early in the third quarter.

The Eagles’ second-half strategy would prove effective against the visitors, but West Hills’ MEGAN SCOTT kept the Wolf Pack in the game in the third with a nice drive through the lane that started near the left side of the three-point arc and resulted in a left-handed layup off the glass.

Granite Hills would come right back, however, using good ball movement, as senior RAELLEAH MOORE hit a nice floating shot from the edge of the right side of the key. MICAYELA HERNANDEZ would later find KANI KUBARI unguarded underneath for an easy hoop to slightly extend the lead late in the third.

Hernandez, a senior, was able to create her own shot despite the Eagles length down low, as she darted and twisted for a couple of inside buckets during the third, as Granite Hills asserted the lead. The Eagles led 24-18 with one minute left in the period and extended it to 26-18 with a bucket very late in the quarter.

KERRIE DANIELS, of West Hills, scored a basket underneath on a sharp quick entry pass from Scott late in the fourth to keep the Pack within striking distance.

Granite Hills gains possession against West Hills Tuesday night. / EastCountySports.com photo

Granite Hills led 29-23 with 4:17 left in the game, but West Hills was able to close the gap to 29-27 with just under one minute left.

Senior EMMA KUBARI, also a senior, hit a free throw late to make it a two-possession game in favor of the Eagles. Other Eagles seniors are DIAMOND HOLLIS and DELANEY CASEY.

“Once again (Granite Hills) struggled to score, it took a handful of running 10 foot bank shoots, a 40 foot buzzer beater and a few free throws at the end to get their 31,” said Wolf Pack coach RYAN KINSER. “When you hold a team to that few points you expect to win. However we can not find a player to consistently put the ball in the basket. Once again we struggled from the field (24 percent). We are going to struggle scoring points until our so-called scorers step up and do just that.

“Tonight was just a battle of two teams who play good defense, they just made a couple more shots than we did,” Kinser added.

Granite Hills: No scoring/stats provided.

West Hills: No scoring/stats provided.

HELIX 62, MONTE VISTA 13 – Helix knocked out Monte Vista in Tuesday’s (Feb. 9) Grossmont Hills League encounter in La Mesa.

The Monarchs were overmatched from the get-go but gamely did not give up.

CAM OWENS led Helix with 13 points and 5 rebounds to go with 2 assists and 2 blocks.

TAYLOR GARRETT pitched in with 11 points, while TALIAH HOOKER added 10.

Said Highlanders coach PATRICK TABOR, “When the playoffs start, everybody is 0-0.”

Helix: Cam Owens 13 (5 reb, 2 ast, 2 blk), Taylor Garrett 11 (3 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 2 stl), Taliah Hooker 10 (1 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk), Olivia Missouria 9 (3 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl), Marina Smith 8 (1 stl), Clemons 5 (5 reb, 5 blk), Janae White 5 (1 reb), Kaliah King 1.

Monte Vista: No information provided.

GROSSMONT 41, EL CAJON VALLEY 27 – Grossmont was able to overcome visiting El CajonValley with relative ease in Tuesday’s (Feb. 9) Grossmont Valley League encounter.

ATHENA SOTELO paced the Foothillers with 17 points and 6 rebounds, while TAISHA SILAS added 10 points and 5 rebounds.

Grossmont: Athena Sotelo 17 (6 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl), Taisha Silas 10 (5 reb, 2 stl, 1 blk), Symone Griffith 5 (2 reb, 6 stl), Tassiana Lee 5 (4 reb), Emily Barnes 1 (8 reb), Lydia Halcott 2 (7 reb, 4 blk), Jasmine Lee 1 (3 reb).

El Cajon Valley: No information provided.

SANTANA 46, STEELE CANYON 45 – Santana jumped out 11-4 in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s (Feb. 9) Grossmont Valley League contest in Santee, and led 21-16 at halftime.

Steele Canyon staged a comeback in the third quarter to finish the period 18-13 but it wasn’t enough, as Santana overcame the Cougars in the fourth quarter to take the victory.

ASHLEY TAVIZON and MARIANNA MARTINEZ paced the Cougars with 13 points apiece.

“It was a very physical, emotional game – one of those games where you had everything,” said Cougars coach PETER RUIZ. “We had a horrible first quarter, couldn’t make a basket to save our lives.

“In the fourth quarter we had to purposely foul, play some good old-fashioned basketball strategy. We had a 2 point lead going into the fourth. We battled and came up short. It’s anyone’s game at this point.”

Steele Canyon: Ashley Tavizon 13, Marianna Martinez 13, Marie Estavillo 7, Jules Loibl 5, Mariah Smith 5, Kylie Minshew 2.

Valhalla takes a shot against visiting El Capitan Tuesday night at The Thudnerdome.

VALHALLA 36, EL CAPITAN 28 – Valhalla took a narrow lead in the first quarter and added to it for a 21-11 lead at intermission of Tuesday’s (Feb. 9) Grossmont Valley League encounter on the Norsemen’s court.

El Capitan made an 8 to 5 run in the third quarter but was outmanned in the fourth as Valhalla claimed the victory.

“It was closer than the score indicates,” said Vaqueros’ assistant coach ROCKY COOK. “We had too many turnovers.”

Valhalla: No report.

El Capitan: Marie Cook 22 (7 reb, 2 stl), Danielle Pimentel 2 (1 stl), Sarah Lohman 2, Elizabeth Giddings 1 (1 reb, 1 stl), Miley Silvas 1 (1 reb), Zanndra Ragole (1 reb, 1 stl), Taylor Fagan (1 reb, 2 stl), Makenzi Kygar (1 reb).

CORONADO 54, CHRISTIAN 24 – Christian got off to a good start, taking a narrow edge over visiting Coronado in Tuesday’s (Feb. 9) Central League contest.

However, it was all downhill from there for the Patriots who were outscored in every quarter.

Sharp-shooter MARISSA GILES was held to 5 points, although JASMYN CRAWFORD tossed in 10 points for the Patriots, and BROOKE OWENS made 7 points.

“We played a good first quarter then we went down from there,” said Patriots coach TIFFANY GILES. “Everybody is honing in on Marissa now. Our shooting was just off tonight.”

Christian: Jasmyn Crawford 10, Brooke Owens 7 (2 reb, 3 stl), Marissa Giles 5 (6 reb, 1 stl), Alyssa Rothrock 1 (2 reb), Sage Salacup 1, Hayley Robinson (5 reb).