SMALL, BUT EXPLOSIVE BRAVES SHOULD WIN VALLEY TITLE

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By David Dickens

January 9, 2014 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon Valley High School boys basketball coach Marty Ellis has still plenty of work to do, however there is a  a very good chance to win the Grossmont Valley League title.

 “Due to lack of practice time, we can’t fix what needs to be fixed,” stated a frustrated Ellis. Which is quite true at all levels due to the delays because of tournament schedules.

 The EL Cajon Valley Braves are small in size but extremely quick and one of the best squads at trap defense. The Braves started off with a bang out of the gate with an 8-0 run, which has since declined to 10-5, winning only two of their last eight games. It definitely can be exhausting as well, going from tournament to tournament.

Consistency has been the issue according to Coach Ellis. The free throw percentage has been lackluster at a mere 64 percent, and shooting the long ball needs repairing as well.

However on the positive side, captain and point guard Ibrahim Ali and  co-captain Brenden Brocious are scoring 12-14 points a game and Ali has 23 field goals. The Braves as a whole are scoring 38 points a game.

The key to taking league would definitely be to win the turnover battle and improve on the free throw percentage.

Next up for the Braves will be their last game before league play begins ainst Coach Ellis’ former squad, the (1-7) Crawford High Colts, which should end up as a “W,” leaving the Braves at an impressive (10-6).

“All of our losses have come at the hands of much bigger teams, in terms of size,” stated Coach Ellis. “The only way to combat the size battle is I start five guards and try to keep a fast paced game.”

Ellis continued, “Monte Vista will be our competition in league play. As long as we do what we are supposed to do we should achieve our main goal, which is to win a Division 4 championship.” So far the Braves are 8-1 in Division 4 play.

Look for veterans Ibrahim Ali and Brenden Brocious to improve and establish their identity.

Marty Ellis is in his fifth year as boys basketball head coach at El Cajon Valley, and has improved this program greatly in the last four years. The Braves should go to CIF, and maybe even further with more practice time and the heart and passion this squad has for the game.


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