Helix Wins in Overtime

Brandon Sanders is used to being in the spotlight.

He simply is accustomed to getting attention for his football, not basketball.

Friday night, Sanders, a Times All-County selection as a defensive back, led the Helix basketball team to a 54-51 overtime victory over Mt. Miguel in a Grossmont 3-A league game at Mt. Miguel.

With both Jason Falconer and Lloyd Lake, Helix’s leading scorers on the bench with foul trouble in the second half--Falconer fouled out with three minutes remaining--Sanders, who is usually directing the offense instead of scoring, pulled Helix back into the game.

Sanders, playing with four fouls, scored eight of his 12 points in the fourth quarter.

“We missed shots in the beginning but made them when we had to, in the end,” said Sanders, a 5-foot-10 senior guard. “Coach gave me the green light, so I began scoring.”

Helix (13-4, 3-0) held Mt. Miguel scoreless in overtime.

The Highlanders trailed, 39-31, at the end of the third quarter, but in the final 5:18, Sanders twice pulled his team to within one point before he finally tied the game at 47 on a free throw with 2:20 remaining.

With 32 seconds left in regulation Lake scored to tie the game at 51 and force overtime.

Lake scored a minute into overtime, giving Helix a 53-51 lead. With six seconds remaining, Kevin Hagen added a free throw.

Mt. Miguel (12-6, 1-1) was led by Domingo Rivera, who scored 12 of his 25 points in the second quarter.

“We turned the ball over, traveled, made silly fouls and missed free throws,” Mt. Miguel Coach Bill Sullivan said.