Boys Hoops: Helix Pulls Away from Valhalla

When the discussion is about winning championships, rarely is the Helix Charter School boys basketball team dismissed.

Helix, which has won 11 of the last 15 league titles, took a major step toward continuing its dominance Friday night by knocking off Valhalla 41-32 in Friday’s Grossmont Hills League opener in La Mesa.

Junior Brian Valadez cashed in 15 points, eight rebounds and blocked two shots to lead the Highlanders (10-5, 1-0) past the Norsemen (9-8, 0-1).

“We killed them on the boards,” said Valadez.

That’s clearly because Valhalla did not block out on the glass. The Highlanders gained a scoring advantage on second chances, six buckets to one.  

Clinging to a 25-23 lead late in the third quarter, the Highlanders embarked on a 6-0 run and were never threatened thereafter.

Valadez eventually put the game away by dropping in two free throws with 3:25 left. Tommie Young put a lock on the victory with a lay-up and two free throws.

Highlanders coach John Singer singled out the work of football linebacker Gary Thompson, who produced four points, four rebounds and three blocks.

Thompson’s strength is inside the paint on the defensive end. Anything else he produces is a plus.

“He’s a great football player and a great kid who wants to play basketball,” said Singer.

Young, a senior point guard, finished with eight points, four steals, three assists and two rebounds. Post man Kenny Keys totaled eight points and 10 rebounds.

One of the keys to the Helix victory was shutting down Valhalla scoring leader David Wilschetz, who gathered twelve rebounds but totaled only eight points–less than half his season scoring average.

 Special to La Mesa Patch from East County Sports.com