Jaguars back on track after two straight basketball wins

AJ Broomell puts up a three-pointer against El Cajon Valley (photo by Gabriel Santana).

After suffering a four-point loss in the waning moments of the first game in league play, the Valley Center varsity boys basketball team bounced back for a pair of convincing wins to get back on track this week.
The Jaguars couldn’t hold on to an early lead in the league opener against Canyon Crest Academy last Tuesday, and ended up taking a 58–54 loss.
The Jags scored 19 points in the first quarter to take a commanding ten-point lead, but Canyon Crest came back with 15 points in the second to narrow the margin to six points at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Ravens pulled even by outscoring the Jaguars 18–12. Down the stretch, the Jags couldn’t get their shots to fall when they needed them and were outscored by five in the fourth quarter.
Stehly Reden turned in another monster performance with 30 points, while AJ Broomell added 11, James Siva had seven, Robby Tortes had four and Mike McInerny had two.
The Jaguars turned the week around on Thursday at Del Norte, as they scored big in the first and fourth quarters to take a 60–43 win.
Valley Center pulled out to another ten-point lead with 18 points in the first quarter, but once again, faltered in the second quarter, allowing 17 points to Del Norte and leading by only four at halftime.
But this time, the Jags came out of the locker room fired up and outscored the Nighthawks 31–18 in the second half, holding Del Norte to just five points in the fourth quarter, to take the win.
Reden once again racked up a game-high 30 points to lead the Jaguars, while Broomell added 14, Beau Reilly had five, McInerny had four, Siva had three and Tortes and Brett Henderson each had two.
The Jags finished off the week with a Saturday night game at home against El Cajon Valley, and dominated in the second half to take a 70–40 win.
Valley Center fed Reden down low early and often, and the big center racked up seven points in the opening period in leading the Jags to a 16–13 lead through the first quarter. With Reden catching his breath on the bench, Tortes stepped up for the Jags and scored eight points in the second quarter, giving Valley Center a 32–24 lead at halftime.
The Jaguars spread the ball around very effectively in the third quarter, as Reden and Tortes combined for 12 points down low and Broomell and McInerny combined for six points shooting from outside.
In the fourth quarter, Reden helped the Jaguars put the game away with 13 points, while Tortes added six more to seal the win.
Reden scored 26 points to complete his unbelievable week of 86 points, while Tortes scored 20, Broomell had ten, McInerny had eight, Dan Henderson had three, Reilly had two and Siva had one.
Valley Center is now 11–8 overall and 2–1 in league. Next up, the Jaguars host Orange Glen on Friday night at 7 p.m.

Photos by Ray Flores:


















Photos by Gabriel Santana: