Monte Vista’s Pressure Forces Helix to Cave In

Monte Vista’s Marty Ellis made it abundantly clear he did not wish to speak of his 18 points, Torrey Pines or anything else, for that matter.

Ellis had just played an integral role in the Monarchs’ convincing 54-44 victory over Grossmont 3-A League rival Helix in the semifinals of the San Diego Section Division II playoffs. And with the victory, Monte Vista will play Torrey Pines in Saturday’s final at 4:30 p.m. in the San Diego Sports Arena.

Ellis, however, had only one thing on his tongue afterward.

“Defense,” he shouted repeatedly.

“Defense was the key. No easy layups. Defense. Offense was off. Defense won it for us.”

Ellis convinced Helix, which turned the ball over 21 times and was outrebounded, 36-28, and he will not hear many arguments from the 2,000 fans at West Hills High who witnessed his seven steals, nine rebounds and--yes--those 18 points.

Aaron Elliott added five steals, a blocked shot, six rebounds and 14 points and Paul Watson six rebounds and 10 points.

Matt Ehlke, Monte Vista’s emotional leader, had seven rebounds and eight points.

“I thought we had five guys who played pretty good man defense,” Monte Vista Coach Zack Peck said.

“They played harder than us,” Helix forward Andreal Climon confirmed. “We made way too many turnovers. The last time (a Helix victory) we didn’t have nearly that many turnovers.

“Their press is what did it. They expanded it a little this time, and we just couldn’t handle it.”

Ellis was the key, picking off inbounds pass after inbound pass, pressuring constantly.

If Monte Vista’s offense had been working as efficiently as its defense, there’s no telling what the result might have been. As it was, because Monte Vista made only four of 16 shots in the first quarter and seven of 16 in the second, Monte Vista was clinging to a 22-21 lead at halftime.

The third quarter, however, belonged to the Monarchs, 14-6, as they took their biggest lead, 38-27, when Ehlke made a left-handed scoop shot with four seconds left.

Behind Lloyd Lake, who scored half of Helix’s 44 points, the Highlanders made a brief run in the fourth quarter, making it 44-40. But Monte Vista went on an 8-2 run and had things well in hand when Elliott made a steal and dribbled the length of the court for a layup with 1:22 left.

Asked if the Monarchs were nervous before the game, Elliott replied: “Oh my gosh, yes.

“It’s hard to put into words. . . . I sat in school all day shaking. I couldn’t quit shaking.”

Said Peck: “I think presses work better when teams are nervous, don’t you?”