High School Basketball Roundup : Hadfield Scores 40 Points in El Capitan’s Victory

The last time Melisa Hadfield played a girls’ basketball game against El Cajon Valley, she finished without one of her front teeth. This time, the El Capitan forward finished with all her teeth and 40 points.

For El Cajon Valley, Hadfield and the absence of Debbie Duhaney, the Grossmont Conference’s leading scorer, were just too much to overcome. Fifth-ranked El Capitan finally pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 61-44 nonleague victory at El Cajon Valley.

Hadfield had 22 points in the second half, which was a lot better than the first time she played the Braves. In a game earlier this season, Hadfield had 10 points before losing her tooth early into the third quarter.

“I went up for a rebound and came down with an elbow in my face,” Hadfield said. El Capitan went on to win that one, 47-35.

Tuesday’s nonleague game was important for the confidence of El Capitan, which was upset by Helix in a Grossmont 3-A League game Thursday. The Vaqueros (16-3) are tied with Helix for the 3-A league lead at 5-1.

“We’ve got to make sure we don’t trip and fall against Monte Vista or Mt. Miguel (in upcoming league games),” said Cathy Gunion, El Capitan’s coach.

The Vaqueros did a little stumbling against El Cajon Valley (8-10), especially since the Braves were without Duhaney, a junior who aggravated a pulled hamstring Thursday against Grossmont. Duhaney is averaging 17 points a game.

El Cajon Valley Coach Robert Holm put four sophomores and a freshman on the court, and they did well, staying within five points most of the game by using the press.

Unfortunately, the press also got the Braves into foul trouble.

Anne Jensen was called for her fifth foul with 2:28 left in the first quarter and was the first of three players to foul out for the Braves.

El Cajon Valley pulled within 46-41 on a layup by guard Sara Mease, who led the Braves with 19 points, to start the fourth quarter. But that’s as close as they would. Heidi Holm added 16 points for El Cajon Valley.

Hadfield scored 11 of El Capitan’s 15 fourth-quarter points as the Vaqueros outscored the Braves, 15-3, after Mease’s basket.

Hadfield, who also had 8 rebounds, scored all of her baskets on layups.

“Actually, I have the easiest job,” she said. “I was just playing under control. It was good passing, but I went up strong.”