LJ b BB: Farley watch

By Ed Piper, Jr.

The La Jolla basketball program seemed to expect a confirmation of Reed Farley's knee injury as an ACL tear late Monday afternoon, Jan. 30, as he approached a medical examination scheduled for that evening.

The Farley family was waiting 24 hours to hear results of the MRI taken Monday evening.

Farley slammed the ball home in the Vikings' game against Scripps Ranch Thurs., Jan. 26, in the second quarter. As he came down, the high flyer landed awkwardly on his left leg. He fell and writhed in agony as he was removed from the game. He did not return.

La Jolla played the visiting Falcons even to that point in the game. From then on, also lacking forward Charlie Gal, the Vikings struggled and fell to a nine-point loss in the Eastern League contest--their first loss in league play.

A source said that Reed himself expected the MRI to show a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left leg. If that is true, that would mean the end of the four-year starter's high school career, potential surgery to repair the ACL, and a recovery time of six months or more.

"It's really sad, when you think of all he has done for the program," said Behzad Hashemi, a teammate and fellow guard who plays part-time on the varsity with Farley. Hashemi was shooting baskets on the side as head coach Paul Baranowski and JV coach TJ Parry ran a combined varsity-JV practice in the Big Gym Monday evening.

Gal, who has missed the Vikings' last four games with an ankle sprain, vowed Monday, "I will play Friday" in La Jolla's next game, which is at Hoover Fri., Feb. 3. The 6'5" frontcourt man was awaiting word from LJHS trainer Matt Bridges that he was released to resume practice.

Charlie said he has been shooting and running, though he was limited to those activities until he gets permission to practice with the team.

"It's definitely tough," potentially losing Farley, "but we have six winnable games. We could win league, then get ready for CIF (playoffs)," said Gal, a junior who has averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds a game most of the season. Without his presence underneath the basket, forward Daniel McColl has had to battle on the boards alone in a makeshift lineup.

A friend of the La Jolla basketball program, knowledgeable about basketball and the players, commented way back in early December about the increased risk of injury Farley faced in pushing the envelope with acrobatic dunks and high-leaping blocked shots.

A scary moment occurred in the Vikings' loss at Carlsbad right after the New Year. As Reed went up for a dunk attempt, a defender behind him and another in front of him made contact--though it wasn't malicious. Farley, being fouled, fell to the floor and slid past the baseline to the concrete block wall several feet behind the backboard. He didn't hit his head on the concrete block, but it was close. Everyone sighed a breath of relief, but it had been a close call.

In an interview on campus December 20, Farley himself said, "I'm going to attack the rim and try to dunk everything I can. It's a mindset I have (this season)."

Unfortunately, with Thursday's injury, what had been a danger became the reality of an injury possibly sidelining Farley for the duration of his senior season.

ACL tears are a common injury to athletes at all levels these days. He can come back to play at full ability when he enters Harvard University next fall.

Another Viking athlete, Helen Lee, a graduate two years ago, tore her ACL as a sophomore. Lee was able to come back and play goalie for the girls soccer team, and have a role on the volleyball team as well.

For La Jolla's basketball team, in the event of the loss of Farley, Baranowski, who is skilled at this, will have to try to find a way to jigsaw-puzzle his remaining parts together to fashion an Eastern League title with one round to go.

The Vikings' top ten ranking most of the season to this point ended Tuesday. For the first time since December, La Jolla received no votes in this week's media poll.

But La Jolla, at 3-2 after playing all five opponents once, is still in the league hunt. None of the six league teams are undefeated, lending hope. Hoover, though 0-5, played the red and black tough in their first encounter on La Jolla's court.

Madison, at 1-4, is out of the title picture. Henry and Scripps are both 4-1, Serra along with La Jolla 3-2. These games are winnable, if Gal can come back to provide some punch the La Jollans need.