GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: GRANITE HILLS SHUTS VALHALLA DOWN IN SECOND HALF, WINS 42-32

by Christopher Mohr

January 26, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) - Only a few miles separate Granite Hills and Valhalla high schools from each other. The players and coaches from both teams know each other well. Both schools have girls basketball teams with winning records fighting for top position in Grossmont Hills league play.

It was not surprising that Friday night's rivalry game (1/21) between these two teams at Valhalla High School was a tightly contested, spirited matchup in the first half. In the second half however, the visting Eagles' defense intensified and limited the Norsemen to just 11 points in a 42-32 Granite Hills win.

The key to the Eagles' defense was denying the Norsemen's inside game. Danielle Wilson, Valhalla's biggest inside threat, scored a game total of ten points, but only two of those points came in the second half.

With inside scoring taken away from them, Norsemen players were forced to shoot from the outside in the second half, but Eagles' defenders had that covered too, as the Norsemen's 11 points in the second half clearly demonstrates.

Granite Hills coach Jerry Parker praised his defense: "[The Norsemen] throw it inside a lot to Danielle Wilson, but then they can also shoot it from the three. I said 'Hey we've got to double her and get out to the shooters when she kicks it out', and I thought we did a pretty good job of that tonight."

While the Eagles' defense shut down the Norsemen in the second half, their offense took control with the perimeter shooting of Hailey Garner. She connected twice from three point range in the third quarter and gave her team momentum in the third quarter after the first half had ended with the Eagles leading 23-21.

Garner, who frequently shoots from outside the three-point line, finished with a total of 11 points was happy to have regained her shooting touch against Valhalla. "I've been off lately, so it was actually good that I actually made some lately."

Jessica Harris also contributed to the Eagles' win. She led all scorers with 13 points and shared her thoughts on what the key to her team's victory.

"Working as a team basically, because we've been down on ourselves and we haven't been doing so well, so we really had to pick it up, pump each other up and work as a team."

Garner seconded that thought: "We haven't been really working as a team, but we're coming back together and starting to pick each other up."

Granite Hills improves to 10-9 overall; 1-1 in league play with the win. Coach Parker underscored the importance of the win, which prevented his team from starting league play with an 0-2 record.

"Felt really good, it's a crosstown rival game, so it's always big to get a win against Valhalla. Al was a part of our coaching staff, he was a big part of our program for the last few years. It's a friendly rivalry, the girls get pumped up for it and it was a competitive game. I was just glad we were able to pull it out," said Parker, referring to Valhalla coach Al Silva.

Valhalla drops to 12-8 with the loss. They were led in scoring with Wilson, who had 10 points and MacKenzie Cartmill, who added nine points.

Christopher Mohr is a freelance writer in the San Diego area and is an avid Chargers, Padres and Detroit Red Wings fan.

Scoring Summary

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Granite Hills

Harris 13, Garner 11, Williams 6, Leonard 4, Sheeran 4, Kubari 3, Kemp 1 - Total: 42

Valhalla

Wilson 10, Cartmill 9, Kalasho 5, Gilstrap 3, Hale 3, Delucchi 2 - Total: 32