http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDJisWWzBKA
EL CAJON – In the past month, few teams in the section have played better basketball than Helix. The Highlanders won 62-49 at Granite Hills on Friday night to stay atop the Grossmont Hills League and pick up their sixth win in a row.
“This win means a lot to us because we’re still undefeated in league and it gives us more confidence for the games coming up,” said Helix guard Titus Young.
After an even start to the game, Helix (14-5, 3-0 Grossmont Hills) went on a 12-0 run midway through the second quarter to grab a seven-point lead. Granite Hills guard Joey Grubb hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to make it 28-24 at halftime.
In a back-and-forth third quarter, Helix forward Brian Valadez kept the Highlanders in front nearly by himself. Valadez scored 10 of Helix’s 12 third-quarter points – including two three-pointers – and the Highlanders took a 40-36 lead into the final quarter.
Valadez stayed hot at the start of the fourth quarter, making the first two baskets of the quarter to extend the Helix lead to eight. In the final minutes the Highlanders never led by less than six, able to absorb a torrid scoring stretch from Granite Hills guard Garrett Larch-Miller, who scored all of the Eagles’ 13 points in the final quarter.
“This was one of the more challenging teams in our league, so it’s a good win,” Young said. “We heard a lot about their team already before we came into this game.”
Valadez led Helix with 22 points, one of four Highlanders in double-figures. Helix has been on a roll since starting the season 4-4, only losing to Mount Miguel during this stretch.
“We’ve beaten a lot of good teams in San Diego and we have won 10 out of our last 11, so I think we should be the Top 10,” Young said.
The Highlanders currently have a one-game lead over the rest of their league. Helix’s last league title came in 2007-08, when they went undefeated to win the Grossmont South League.
“We just have to play defense and keep doing what we’re doing,” Young said.
Larch-Miller scored a game-high 23 points to lead Granite Hills (13-8, 1-2), including 17 in the second half. Grubb added 14 for the Eagles, who have lost two straight.
Helix – 62 (14-14-12-22)
Valadez 22, Titus Young 13, Keys 10, Singer 4, Tommie Young 0 (starters) Williams 12, Thompson 1
Granite Hills – 49 (15-9-12-13)
Larch-Miller 23, Grubb 14, Otineru 4, Atkinson 2, Bennett 0 (starters) Sadik 4, Petty 2
Granite Hills guard Garrett Larch-Miller drives against Helix guard Titus Young
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDJisWWzBKA
EL CAJON – In the past month, few teams in the section have played better basketball than Helix. The Highlanders won 62-49 at Granite Hills on Friday night to stay atop the Grossmont Hills League and pick up their sixth win in a row.
“This win means a lot to us because we’re still undefeated in league and it gives us more confidence for the games coming up,” said Helix guard Titus Young.
After an even start to the game, Helix (14-5, 3-0 Grossmont Hills) went on a 12-0 run midway through the second quarter to grab a seven-point lead. Granite Hills guard Joey Grubb hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to make it 28-24 at halftime.
In a back-and-forth third quarter, Helix forward Brian Valadez kept the Highlanders in front nearly by himself. Valadez scored 10 of Helix’s 12 third-quarter points – including two three-pointers – and the Highlanders took a 40-36 lead into the final quarter.
Valadez stayed hot at the start of the fourth quarter, making the first two baskets of the quarter to extend the Helix lead to eight. In the final minutes the Highlanders never led by less than six, able to absorb a torrid scoring stretch from Granite Hills guard Garrett Larch-Miller, who scored all of the Eagles’ 13 points in the final quarter.
“This was one of the more challenging teams in our league, so it’s a good win,” Young said. “We heard a lot about their team already before we came into this game.”
Valadez led Helix with 22 points, one of four Highlanders in double-figures. Helix has been on a roll since starting the season 4-4, only losing to Mount Miguel during this stretch.
“We’ve beaten a lot of good teams in San Diego and we have won 10 out of our last 11, so I think we should be the Top 10,” Young said.
The Highlanders currently have a one-game lead over the rest of their league. Helix’s last league title came in 2007-08, when they went undefeated to win the Grossmont South League.
“We just have to play defense and keep doing what we’re doing,” Young said.
Larch-Miller scored a game-high 23 points to lead Granite Hills (13-8, 1-2), including 17 in the second half. Grubb added 14 for the Eagles, who have lost two straight.
Helix – 62 (14-14-12-22)
Valadez 22, Titus Young 13, Keys 10, Singer 4, Tommie Young 0 (starters) Williams 12, Thompson 1
Granite Hills – 49 (15-9-12-13)
Larch-Miller 23, Grubb 14, Otineru 4, Atkinson 2, Bennett 0 (starters) Sadik 4, Petty 2
Granite Hills guard Garrett Larch-Miller drives against Helix guard Titus Young