El Camino Scampers Past Helix

ENCINITAS —  Maybe Shaun Scurry should throw his 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame at Russell White in practice more often.

White, El Camino’s 6-foot-6 center, responded to Scurry’s bullying by having the game of his life against Helix wide-bodies Gary Walton (6-4, 240 pounds) and Jason Falconer (6-11, 260).

White scored a career-high 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds in El Camino’s 90-67 victory over Helix in the Division II semifinals Wednesday at San Dieguito High.

El Camino (24-4) advances to play San Pasqual in Saturday’s finals at the Sports Arena.

“Russell wanted to go to the Sports Arena,” El Camino Coach Ray Johnson said. “It was a nice time for him to grow up.”

White said he stayed focused.

“Coach Johnson told me I would have to play hard against their big people,” White said. “I just came in ready to play.”

White took advantage of Walton and Falconer’s double-teaming of Scurry by sliding down the lane for easy layups or open 10-foot jumpers. And on two occasions, White took matters into his own hands by stepping in front of Helix passes and dribbling the length of the court for rim-rattling dunks.

“This is the best I’ve ever seen Russell play,” said Scurry, who scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. “I told him he needed to play strong and get himself in the game early. And he came out really ready to play.”

Senior guard Jeff Reeves scored 13 of his 22 points in a 16-2 run that broke the game open and gave El Camino a 35-19 lead. Nine of his points came on three-pointers.

During the run, El Camino forced Helix point guard Brandon Sanders into numerous turnovers.

“We knew that they were good athletes,” Johnson siad. “But we knew that we were better basketball players and that we could go at them.”

Johnson also praised point guard Heath McCoy, who scored 19 points.

Junior forward Lloyd Lake led Helix (20-6) with 23 points, and Walton added 12.