Reed Farley's pass after winning the
opening tip sailed over Charlie Gal (22)
out of bounds to set the tone for the
whole evening. (Photo by Ed Piper, Jr.)
By Ed Piper, Jr.
La Jolla, coming off nine days without team workouts over the winter vacation, was roundly beaten by a motivated Carlsbad squad 75-58 in the Vikings' final pre-league tune-up Wed., Jan. 4.
From the opening tip, which Reed Farley won, then threw a pass that sailed over a cutting Charlie Gal out of bounds, the visitors were kept out of rhythm as the underdog Lancers scrapped, fought for every ball, and won the second half going away.
Carlsbad first-year coach Sam Eshelman's defense boxed Gal in near the basket from the first quarter, while the sixth-ranked Vikings were still able to eke out a 19-16 lead. La Jolla coach Paul Baranowski employed his reserves early on, in trying to supply some kind of balance to the out-of-tune La Jollans.
Garrett Brown, Jacob Ohara, and McClain Thiel were all inserted by the second quarter. The Vikings led by as much as five in the opening stanza, and six in the second quarter in taking a 30-26 lead into the locker room at halftime.
But the Lancers, rebuilding under Eshelman after winning a combined nine games over the past two years, made steps toward their 10th win this season already in forging ahead by nine midway through the third quarter.
Farley and gang seemed to be moved, but with the sixth ranking in CIF they came in with a target on their back. The home team contested every pass and celebrated every basket as if it were a big game.
At one point in the fourth quarter, Carlsbad had three of its four coaches off the bench, remonstrating and challenging.
Down the stretch, senior Stone Stapleton made eight straight free throws to seal the decision for the Lancers. Trailing by four at halftime, Carlsbad proceeded to outscore La Jolla 49-28, a massive reversal of fortunes in the second half.
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