LJ b BB: Follow-up

By Ed Piper

Coach Paul Baranowski employed all sorts of different configurations of his lineup in La Jolla's 43-37 win over Eastlake in the Hilltop Invitational Wed., Dec. 6.

At one point in the first quarter, the Vikings had five guards on the floor. Nick Hulmquist, who can also play in the post at 6'4", was positioned near the basket.

Junior Jacob Duffy saw his most number of minutes in this game. He seemed to gain a footing, and moved with the flow of the game.

Freshman Diego Solis also saw a lot of playing time.

This was the Vikings' fourth tournament game within a span of six days, so the depth of an 11-man roster will get tested, especially with three team members still on the bench with injuries. Langston Aron, who played his first game as a reserve the night before in a big win over Hilltop, was back in civilian clothes Wednesday.

The great thing is that, with all these different lineups, the Vikings are still doing enough to win. It has to be pretty gratifying--and enjoyable if you're a high school basketball player--to win three of four games in a tournament, and arrive at the step of the championship tilt, which comes Fri., Dec. 8.

Evan Brown looked the best he has looked thus far. On the junior varsity last year, he dominated games around the basket. He showed some of that same maneuverability against the Titans. Some of the aggression felt comfortable enough to come out.

Baranowski is a big Brown supporter. From the sidelines, he not infrequently calls out "Ev, good job," and other words of encouragement, which he does for other players as well. But in Brown's case, there seems to be an extra measure of support and feeling.

Brown didn't show any signs of the shortness of breath he has complained of previously. His highlight play was the basket he made with just over a minute left in the close contest, the game still in doubt. After coming up short on his first layup attempt, the 6'2" junior grabbed his own rebound and went up again. It was a sweet moment in his five-game varsity career. It put the Vikings up by five, 41-36.

The backdrop to the hard-earned basket was that Evan had committed his fourth foul only two minutes before. Baranowski stayed with him because he was being effectual. He provides the Vikings with another big man battling up front besides Gal.

In fact, the coach started the second half with Brown in the lineup. That's a sign of development for the forward.

Behzad Hashemi is showing that he is pretty quick. He is recorded as having seven steals against Eastlake. He got credit for five the night before in the assault on poor Hilltop, the tournament's host team, the only team not to qualify for the final day of play. With Hashemi and Ohara both on the floor, that gives La Jolla some quickness firepower in the backcourt that opponents have to deal with.

In Baranowski's offense against a zone, he puts both players out on the perimeter. Then they can probe into the interior, and drive if the opening presents itself.

Against a man offense as with Eastlake, the Vikings have a designed play that works to both sides of the court in which Hashemi cuts through the lane and pops out for an open jump shot.