With a playoff win on the line, Escondido rose to the challenge on Thursday. They had just enough and edged out the Patrick Henry Patriots 36-34. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Cougars have posted since January 4, 2024.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Escondido to victory, but perhaps none more so than Anaya McGlory, who almost dropped a double-double with nine points and ten boards. McGlory also grabbed five steals, which is notable because Escondido is 6-2 when she posts at least five steals, but 5-11 otherwise. Naomi Gutierrez was another key player, putting up eight points along with ten rebounds and six steals.
Escondido was working as a unit and finished the game with 13 assists. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 5.2 assists per game earlier this season, but in their last 15 matches they've averaged 15.6.
When it comes to explaining why Patrick Henry lost, don't look at Ally Mangahis. Despite the final result, she went 5-for-10 on her way to 16 points. Mangahis is also on a roll when it comes to shooting accuracy, as she's posted one of at least 50% in the last three games she's played.
Cougars
| 02/20/25 @ Patrick Henry | 36-34 |
| 02/18/25 @ Escondido Adventist Academy | 64-38 |
| 02/14/25 @ Ramona | 75-17 |
| 02/11/25 vs San Pasqual | 50-34 |
| 02/07/25 @ Valley Center | 35-23 |
The victory was the fifth in a row for Escondido, bringing their record for this year to 11-13. The wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 52.0 points over those games. As for Patrick Henry, their defeat dropped their record down to 20-7.
Coming up, Escondido will face off against El Cajon Valley at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Both teams are headed into the matchup with plenty of momentum (El Cajon Valley has won six straight at home, while Escondido won five straight on the road), something that'll have to change. Patrick Henry does not have any more games scheduled as of now.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
