By Ed Piper, Jr.
La Jolla basketball coach Darice Carnaje was talking about her players' present level of play and development before the Vikings' game Wednesday evening, November 30, against Serra in their second game of the Matador Invitational.
"We're definitely better than last year," said the second-year coach, who coached previously at OLP for over a decade. "We just have to keep building on our skills."
Despite La Jolla's 70-37 defeat at the hands of Bonita Vista on opening night, Carnaje maintains a perspective as a coach who is a teacher of skills to young women. In the process, by her integrity, confidence, and desire for them to excel, she teaches so much more.
"(My girls) got more composure" after they had seen and dealt with the Baron press as the game progressed, despite the lopsided score. In fact, she said: "I like teams that press all the time." They keep up an intensity the whole game.
One area where Carnaje says her players need to improve is on layups. "They need to finish. They'll get that. It takes basketball maturity."
So, as the Vikings underwent another steam-rolling following the coach's comments, this time a 79-34 loss to host Serra, who also use a press most of the game, one could see La Jolla point guard Rebecca Saul using her left hand to dribble up court. Fellow guard Petra Eaton is visibly improved, with better ball skills and movement over last year.
Skyla Loux missed the Vikings' first shot attempt, then freshman Layla Jackson of the Q's hit a jumper to put La Jolla down 2-0 with 25 seconds elapsed.
Junior Sina Anae took a pass from Eaton for a layup, equalizing the score. The Q press nabbed several steals in a row, as Saul, Eaton, and Katrina Kurtchi--starting her first game--battled to try to get the ball upcourt. The Vikings had a hard time getting the ball to midcourt or into the front court through much of the opening quarter.
The Q's built a 9-4 lead, then 20-6 behind senior Breanne Archie outside and big Monique Smith, who is a Kent State commit, inside. Anae hit a difficult turnaround from the left side of the key during that stretch. Saul also canned a layup at full speed under heavy pressure.
Kurtchi showed some success in dribbling the ball upcourt, but Serra's furious group defense harried and harassed if a Viking didn't pass or shoot quickly.
The differential expanded to 38-10 as Serra's Mikayla Nash hit a three to beat the buzzer to end the first quarter.
Carnaje employed several players in succession, including newcomer Eman Adam, a sophomore up from last year's JV's, in addition to returner Si Young Kim. Veteran Imani Trinidad-Gallagher, a junior, was inserted to start the second quarter.
The score was 59-15 at half time, 77-29 after three quarters as Q coach Corey Wright, whose team has won a league title but which like La Jolla finds itself in a new league this year, used his subs to press, press, press.
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