Helix Cruises Past Monte Vista in Tuneup for Grossmont Showdown

Consider it a tuneup for the Highlanders' Grossmont Hills League showdown against the Grossmont Foothillers on Friday.

On the strength of a 14-0 scoring run, Helix Charter buzzed out to a 20-4 lead one minute into the second quarter of Tuesday’s 73-41 Grossmont Conference crossover rout of visiting Monte Vista.

Senior guard Tommie Young set the pace for Helix with 14 points, six rebounds, four assists and one steal. Kenny Keys added 13 points and 12 rebounds. Gary Thompson chipped in a dozen points off the bench.

But as always is the case at Helix, the talk was focused on the Highlanders’ defense.

“Our defense got the best of them,” said Young. “We scored a lot of fast-break points. They had more size than us, but we were quicker (and superior ball-handlers).”

The Highlanders also hammered the Monarchs from the free throw line, 28-6.

Helix (11-5, 1-0 GHL), which has won seven of its last eight, defeated Grossmont (11-7, 0-1 GHL) in last month’s finals of the Chula Vista Spartans Classic 48-34.

“Even though we beat them last time we know they’re going to come out hard,” Young said. “This game is at their house and the stakes are much higher.”

James Jackson was Monte Vista’s offensive leader against Helix with 16 points, including a pair of threes.

Monte Vista, which has suffered four losses by a total of seven points, returns to Grossmont Valley League action Friday when the Monarchs (10-8, 0-1 GVL) travel to Lakeside to face El Capitan. 

Special to Patch.com from EastCountySports.com