Here's something you might be interested in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7DxNGoDyEA
VISTA – Defense didn’t win the Avocado East League championship for Vista on Wednesday night, but it kept the Panthers’ hopes of hanging a banner alive. Trailing league leader Mission Hills by five entering the fourth quarter, Vista turned up its defensive pressure to beat the Grizzlies 61-51 and force a first-place tie with one game left.
“We decided we needed to buckle down as a team and play team basketball,” said Vista point guard John Fletcher. “We knew that a league title was on the line.”
Fletcher was at the front of a Vista trap defense that forced nine Mission Hills turnovers in the final quarter and put the Panthers ahead by five points midway through the quarter. After handling Vista’s defensive pressure well for most of the game, Mission Hills (16-10, 8-1 Avocado East) struggled with it late.
“It wasn’t just turnovers – it was turnovers that led directly to baskets,” said Mission Hills head coach Curtis Hofmeister. “When it’s one-on-none your chances of winning aren’t very good.”
Mission Hills guard Hunter Moore converted a three-point play to make it 53-51 with 3:02 left, but the Grizzlies didn’t score after that and Vista (18-9, 8-1) put the game away by sinking eight free throws in the final minute. The Panthers outscored Mission Hills 21-6 in the final quarter played at their desired fast pace.
“Part of our game plan was to get the game a little bit faster. We want to get out and run and when we can do that it’s to our benefit,” said Vista head coach Charlie Mercado.
With the win, Vista earned a split with Mission Hills and denied them the outright league title. Both teams have 8-1 records heading into their final league contests on Friday.
“They were fighting for a piece of the league, so we knew we were going to get their best effort,” Hofmeister said. “They didn’t sneak up on us – we knew they were going to bring their ‘A’ game and they did.”
Forward Sedrick Childress led Vista with a game-high 18 points, including eight in the first quarter. Fletcher (17 points) and forward Terrance Walker (15) also finished in double figures for the Panthers, who avenged an overtime loss at Mission Hills on Feb. 2.
“We had a couple great days of practice and it kind of led to us doing what we had to do tonight,” Mercado said. “We doubled up yesterday – we practiced in the afternoon and in the evening – and it really paid off.”
Guard Kyler Kennedy scored 12 points and center Kameron Rooks added 10 to lead Mission Hills offensively. The Grizzlies had a 29-26 halftime lead and ended the third quarter on an 8-0 run to take the lead headed into the fourth quarter.
“We figured that we could get them at home,” Fletcher said. “We are excited because we had to get the win for a shot at the league title.”
On Friday night, both Vista and Mission Hills will try to win the Avocado East League championship on the road. The Panthers play at Fallbrook (18-9, 6-3) while the Grizzlies face rival San Marcos (10-14, 2-7) – and both teams like their chances to win and end up co-champs.
“We know what’s at stake and we’ll be ready to go,” Mercado said. “There’s an 11-year gap on that banner up there and we need to get it filled up.”
“We’ve got our crosstown rival, which is always a barnburner up for grabs,” Hofmeister said. “I think we’ll bounce back and come out and play well.”
Vista – 61 (17-9-14-21)
Childress 18, Fletcher 17, Walker 15, Miller 9, Thompson 0 (starters) Nyenhuis 2
Mission Hills – 51 (11-18-16-6)
Kennedy 12, Rooks 10, Moore 8, Woldemichel 8, Miller 6 (starters) Ngiyulu 7
Vista guard John Fletcher elevates for a finger roll in front of Mission Hills center Kameron Rooks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7DxNGoDyEA
VISTA – Defense didn’t win the Avocado East League championship for Vista on Wednesday night, but it kept the Panthers’ hopes of hanging a banner alive. Trailing league leader Mission Hills by five entering the fourth quarter, Vista turned up its defensive pressure to beat the Grizzlies 61-51 and force a first-place tie with one game left.
“We decided we needed to buckle down as a team and play team basketball,” said Vista point guard John Fletcher. “We knew that a league title was on the line.”
Fletcher was at the front of a Vista trap defense that forced nine Mission Hills turnovers in the final quarter and put the Panthers ahead by five points midway through the quarter. After handling Vista’s defensive pressure well for most of the game, Mission Hills (16-10, 8-1 Avocado East) struggled with it late.
“It wasn’t just turnovers – it was turnovers that led directly to baskets,” said Mission Hills head coach Curtis Hofmeister. “When it’s one-on-none your chances of winning aren’t very good.”
Mission Hills guard Hunter Moore converted a three-point play to make it 53-51 with 3:02 left, but the Grizzlies didn’t score after that and Vista (18-9, 8-1) put the game away by sinking eight free throws in the final minute. The Panthers outscored Mission Hills 21-6 in the final quarter played at their desired fast pace.
“Part of our game plan was to get the game a little bit faster. We want to get out and run and when we can do that it’s to our benefit,” said Vista head coach Charlie Mercado.
With the win, Vista earned a split with Mission Hills and denied them the outright league title. Both teams have 8-1 records heading into their final league contests on Friday.
“They were fighting for a piece of the league, so we knew we were going to get their best effort,” Hofmeister said. “They didn’t sneak up on us – we knew they were going to bring their ‘A’ game and they did.”
Forward Sedrick Childress led Vista with a game-high 18 points, including eight in the first quarter. Fletcher (17 points) and forward Terrance Walker (15) also finished in double figures for the Panthers, who avenged an overtime loss at Mission Hills on Feb. 2.
“We had a couple great days of practice and it kind of led to us doing what we had to do tonight,” Mercado said. “We doubled up yesterday – we practiced in the afternoon and in the evening – and it really paid off.”
Guard Kyler Kennedy scored 12 points and center Kameron Rooks added 10 to lead Mission Hills offensively. The Grizzlies had a 29-26 halftime lead and ended the third quarter on an 8-0 run to take the lead headed into the fourth quarter.
“We figured that we could get them at home,” Fletcher said. “We are excited because we had to get the win for a shot at the league title.”
On Friday night, both Vista and Mission Hills will try to win the Avocado East League championship on the road. The Panthers play at Fallbrook (18-9, 6-3) while the Grizzlies face rival San Marcos (10-14, 2-7) – and both teams like their chances to win and end up co-champs.
“We know what’s at stake and we’ll be ready to go,” Mercado said. “There’s an 11-year gap on that banner up there and we need to get it filled up.”
“We’ve got our crosstown rival, which is always a barnburner up for grabs,” Hofmeister said. “I think we’ll bounce back and come out and play well.”
Vista – 61 (17-9-14-21)
Childress 18, Fletcher 17, Walker 15, Miller 9, Thompson 0 (starters) Nyenhuis 2
Mission Hills – 51 (11-18-16-6)
Kennedy 12, Rooks 10, Moore 8, Woldemichel 8, Miller 6 (starters) Ngiyulu 7
Vista guard John Fletcher elevates for a finger roll in front of Mission Hills center Kameron Rooks