Kelly Criterion: Eagles title drive rides with Ryan & Co.

By Ramon Scott
Updated: February 13, 2016

2015-16 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

By Ramon Scott

© East County Sports.com

Granite Hills David Setterberg defends against Santana Friday night in El Cajon. / EastCountySports.com photo

EL CAJON (2-13-16) — Granite Hills shook off the Santana Sultans’ stubborn challenge to stop the Eagles’ route to the Grossmont Valley League title, pulling away in the fourth quarter from a tightly-contested battle, grabbing a 64-49 win.

Junior RYAN KELLY had 27 points and 11 rebounds, while teammates DARIEN COSSIO had 17 points including 5 treys, and DAVID SETTERBERG added 14 points.

The Eagles broke the game open with a 19-6 fourth quarter run as they clinched the Grossmont Valley League championship. One win in their last two games will assure the Eagles of their first outright league title since 2006.

“We tried to pick up the tempo in the fourth quarter and that worked to our advantage,” said coach RANDY ANDERSON of his Eagles, who have won 8 of their last 9 starts.

Kelly landed 9 points and Setterberg added 6 as Granite Hills turned the game into a rout in the final period.

EastCountySports.com photo

Kelly, a 6-foot-5 wing forward, helped Granite Hills avenge its only league loss, a 68-55 decision in Santee on Jan. 22. He hit a three-pointer with just over six minutes left in the game to break open a 49-49 tie, and the Eagles would never trail again.

Granite Hills led just 45-43 after three quarters, as Cossio bombed the Sultans five times from long distance over the first 24 minutes.

Kelly later buried a deep three, extending the Eagles’ lead to 54-44, while senior JAKE BURTON took a pass in front of the Eagles’ bench before facing up his defender, then driving around his man to put up a left-handed layup off the glass to help Granite pull away.

Kelly made a short shot from the left elbow off the glass for a 56-46 edge, then Granite Hills led 58-46 with two minutes remaining after Burton grabbed a board. The Eagles finished up the possession with a cutting layup through the lane by Setterberg from a great dishing pass.

Setterberg, who finished with 14 points, and was 6-for-11 from the floor including a pair of treys, made a block with 25.7 left in the game to make a final statement.

The Sultans took a 32-31 lead early in the third, but the Eagles resumed control for the moment, taking a 41-35 edge with a 10-3 run.

Santana was led by MITCHELL MILLER’s 13 points, but Granite limited him to just two of the Sultans’ final 20 points.

The Sultans’ defensive effort stopped the Eagles on possessions during the middle of the second quarter, as Granite Hills led 22-20 midway through the period.

Granite Hills built a 17-11 first-quarter lead taking advantage of an ineffective zone by the Sultans. The Eagles scored four threes on its first five possessions, led by Cossio, as the hosts led 12-4 out of the game.

Granite Hills: Ryan Kelly 27 (11 reb, 2 ast, 2 blk), Darien Cossio 17 (2 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl), David Setterberg 14 (3 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk), Jake Burton 2 (5 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl), Cameron Spitzer 2 (1 reb, 5 ast), Jorden Rogers 2 (1 reb, 1 ast), Dylan Garcia (1 reb, 1 stl).

Santana: Mitchell Miller 13 (5 reb, 3 stl), Frankie Gutierrez 8 (4 reb, 6 ast), Daulton Barry 6 (5 reb, 3 ast), Noah Nunez 5 (3 reb, 1 ast), Sage Hicks 5 (1 reb, 1 blk), Trent Baugh 5 (2 reb, 2 ast), Anthony Romero 4 (1 reb, 1 stl), Cooper Mendoza 3 (1 reb, 1 stl), John Bobof (1 reb, 1 ast).

MONTE VISTA 54, MOUNT MIGUEL 50 – DEONDRE McHAYLE rolled a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds to help the Monte Vista Monarchs edge Mount Miguel in Friday night’s (Feb. 12) Grossmont Valley League crosstown rivalry game.

The Monarchs are scrambling to improve their playoff record since they have won 5 of their last 6.

A balanced Monte Vista attack made sure the Monarchs did not suffer an upset loss at the hands of the Matadors.

“Bottom line is we have to win both of our final games against Santana and Granite Hills to make the playoffs,” said Matadors coach JAY ROWLETT. “If we lose even one we’re out, so our destiny is in our own hands.”

DARIAN NORWOOD scored a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, while TRE OWENS added 13 points, SHAI STEVENSON pitched in 11 and BO RANKINS yanked down 15 rebounds to go with 4 blocks.

JAMES ALLEN scored 12 points and TREVON ALLEN added 11 for MountMiguel.

“You’ve got to give MountMiguel credit, because they wanted to speed up the game, forcing us into turnovers,” said Monarchs coach MIKE TULLY. “And that was a good plan.”

Not good enough.

Monte Vista: Deondre McHayle 15 (15 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk),Tre Owens 13 (6 reb, 7 ast, 2 stl), Shai Stevenson 11 (6 reb, 5 ast, 2 blk), Bo Rankins 9 (15 reb, 1 ast, 4 blk), Terry Bone 6 (5 reb, 1 ast, 2 blk), Dylan Ayers (3 reb, 2 ast).

Mount Miguel: Darian Norwood 16 (10 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), James Allen 12 (5 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl), Trevon Allen 11 (6 reb, 1 ast), Marquis Neal 6 (3 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl), Chris Thompson 3 (1 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl), Andres Cox 2 (2 ast, 1 stl), Devon Brown (2 reb).

— Bill Dickens, © EastCountySports.com

Valhalla and Steele Canyon await a rebound on Friday night.

STEELE CANYON 70, VALHALLA 64 – SteeleCanyon broke into the win column for the first time this season in Grossmont Hills League play as the Cougars upended Valhalla Friday night (Feb. 12).

Steele Canyon got some unplanned contributions from AMIR HARRIS, who tallied 11 points in his varsity debut.

“He was amazing, especially on defense,” said Cougars coach DEREK STEPHENS. “We started three sophomores and he was one of them.”

Junior DeANGELO LEWIS was assigned to cover Valhalla sharp-shooter COLE HENDERSON.

“I thought he did a great job,” Stephens said.

Maybe so, but Henderson finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and 7 blocks.

NICK HODGE, who has been a primary cog in the SteeleCanyon defense, erupted for a season-high 17 points for the Cougars (10-15, 1-6 GHL).

Steele Canyon quarterback THOMAS FISHBURNE chipped in with 12 points, the majority coming on 3 triples.

Steele Canyon put the game away on a free throw by GAGE SANDERS and two by Harris. The Cougars made 28 of 67 (48 percent) shots from the floor including 8 threes.

On the flip side Valhalla was 21 of 48, which is a superior percent (44), which included 7 treys.

In addition to allowing 19 more shots to the Cougars (10-15, 1-6 GHL), the Norsemen (15-11, 2-5 GHL) turned the ball over 20 times.

JOHN MURAD turned in a career high 27 points to pace the Norsemen. He was deadly from all points of the court, hitting 6 of 7 three-pointers and 7 of 8 free throws.

MATTHEW SAKO added 10 points and 7 rebounds for Valhalla.

Steele Canyon: Nick Hodge 17, Thomas Fishburne 12, Amir Harris 11, Javon Nutter 8, Gage Sanders 8, Nick Barns 5, Kyree Woods 4, DeAngelo Lewis 3.

Valhalla: John Murad 27 (7 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl), Cole Henderson 15 (14 reb, 2 stl, 7 blk), Matthew Sako 10 (7 reb, 2 ast), Jordan Ellis 8 (4 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl), Nathan Yousif 4 (4 reb, 4 ast), Kai Komaki (3 reb).

CHRISTIAN 77, SOUTHLAND CHRISTIAN 45 – One of the top players in East County, TRAVIS BALLARD scored 32 points and grabbed 22 rebounds to help the Christian High Patriots make the 120 mile trip to Walnut that much more profitable as they smothered Southland Christian 77-45 in a non-league contest Friday night (Feb. 12).

Nine Patriots contributed to the scoring attack, including DAVID TODD JEREMIAH who tallied a dozen markers, while KYLE STOWERS added 10 points and 5 assists.

Christian built a 36-15 halftime lead and then pedaled away to the lopsided victory.

Christian: Travis Ballard 32 (22 reb, 3 blk), David Todd Jeremiah 12 (2 reb, 2 ast), Kyle Stowers 10 (4 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl, 1 blk), Daniel Welch 8 (8 reb), Dominic Bristol 4 (4 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk), Jacob Sandusky 4 (2 reb), Layne Larsen 3 (3 reb, 2 stl), Grant Taylor 2 (4 reb, 2 ast 1 blk), Jackson Larson 2, Daniel Guerrero (2 reb, 1 stl).

EL CAPITAN 49, EL CAJONVALLEY 25 – The Vaqueros of El Capitan avenged a first round loss to El CajonValley with a relatively easy victory in a Grossmont Valley League encounter on Friday (Feb. 12) in Lakeside.

KADE KYGAR, a 6-foot-2 senior, dropped in 18 points – the majority coming on four 3-pointers on Senior Night.

DOMINIC IUDICIANI, also a senior, chipped in with a dozen points, while junior BRENDON HEAD added 8 points – the majority coming on a pair of treys.

“The kids played the hardest they have played all season,” said El CajonValley coach SCOTTY JAMES. “They played their best. We were down two points going into the second quarter and down six going into halftime until we ran into a 3-point shooter (Kygar) who connected from almost half court. So we ended up down 9, and we fouled him and he made 2 of 3 free throws.

“In the third quarter we played great defense, just couldn’t score with the ball.”

“We picked up the tempo and the intensity in the first half,” said El Capitan coach FRANK QUINONES, whose Vaqueros led 22-14 at halftime. “After that we pulled away.”

El Capitan: Kade Kygar 18, Dominic Iudiciani 12, Brendon Head 8, Devin Dulay 4, Donald Irwin 3, Trevor Shenefield 2.

El Cajon Valley: Greg Jones 8 (7 reb), Ahmad Sulyman 7 (4 reb), Ali Alsawafi 5 (9 reb), Hussein Al-anezi 5 (1 reb), Hasan Alhasan (4 reb).