The Helix High School boys basketball team tipped off the 2018-19 season on the road and the Highlanders will remain there throughout the rest of the season due to the school’s gymnasium undergoing refurbishing.
All indoor sports will be affected during the current winter sports campaign. This includes girls basketball as well as wrestling.
All home matches will be played on the road.
“We will play two games at the site of the other team in league play,” veteran Helix boys basketball coach John Singer said.
The Helix High School boys basketball team tipped off the 2018-19 season on the road and the Highlanders will remain there throughout the rest of the season due to the school’s gymnasium undergoing refurbishing.
All indoor sports will be affected during the current winter sports campaign. This includes girls basketball as well as wrestling.
All home matches will be played on the road.
“We will play two games at the site of the other team in league play,” veteran Helix boys basketball coach John Singer said.
In other words, it is what it is.
Despite being handicapped by practicing at a local youth rec centers and playing all their games at away venues this season, the Scotties have had a reasonably good start to the boys hoops season, all things considered.
Helix topped Lincoln, 45-42, to win Monday’s Sweetwater Host Lions Club Classic game in National City. With the win, the Highlanders improved their season record to 4-5.
Helix tipped off the season by competing in the San Diego Tip-Off Challenge, defeating Christian while dropping match-ups against St. Augustine and Montgomery.
The Scotties finished 2-3 in the 42nd annual Hilltop Invitational, scoring victories against Hilltop (56-37) and Otay Ranch (67-64 in overtime) while coming up short against Westview (54-51), Rancho Buena Vista (57-45) and Eastlake (61-53).
The Highlanders have four guaranteed pool games in the Sweetwater tournament, which runs through this weekend.
Helix was scheduled to meet Kearny, Bonita Vista and South Granville (Creedmore, N.C.) through the end of tourney play.
The Highlanders tip off against the North Carolina visitors Thursday, Dec. 20, at 8 p.m., to wrap up pool play.
All tournament games are played at Sweetwater High School.
Following the Christmas holiday, Helix is scheduled to compete in the Southern California Holiday Prep Classic, drawing match-ups against San Pasqual and Morse on Dec. 26 and Modesto on Dec. 27.
The Highlanders play at Monte Vista on Jan. 4 and tip off Grossmont Hills League play Jan. 8 at Grossmont.
League opponents this season include Grossmont, Steele Canyon, West Hills and Mount Miguel.
Top players for Helix this season include Samuel Stewart and Maurice Holmes.
Holmes stands 6-6 while Stewart is 6-2.
Both are returners off last season’s team that finished 8-2 in league play, 19-10 overall.
Singer said this year’s team will need to improve over the second half of the season in order to match those lofty numbers.
“We’re very average and have a lot of work to do,” Singer said up front.
While the Highlanders may have some talented players, trying to find a place just to practice has to be disruptive.
“We have to work through this stuff,” Singer said. “We hope we can improve and get there.”
