LJ g BB 40, UC 48

Coach Darice Carnaje gathers the Vikings for a
timeout in the first quarter against UC.
(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

La Jolla mounted its trademark late-game rally against visiting University City Tues., Dec. 12, but it fell short as the Vikings fell to a 48-40 decision.

Looking powerful, the hosts scored the first seven points of the game against a Centurion team that looked like they didn't know how to shoot. Sina Anae, Si Young, and Brooke Strowbridge all had baskets in that stretch. Leads in the first quarter reached 9-4 and 11-6.

After going ahead 13-8 early in the second quarter courtesy of scoring by Kat Kurtchi and Rebecca Saul, the Vikings looked more human and UC woke up in the person of long-range shooting specialist Morgan Wills, who began hitting  shots from outside that she had been missing.

Another figurative thorn in the Vikings' side was guard Riley Reinhardt. UC first gained the lead with five minutes left in the period, at 17-15, and never trailed again the rest of the game.

LJHS coach Darice Carnjaje's squad had been patient in running the team's set offense, getting backdoors on passes to Anae in the high post, then cutters like Saul breaking for the basket. The Vikings did show patience in sticking with their patterns, slicing what became a 13-point deficit on a Wills jump shot to begin the third quarter to eight points at the five-minute mark on Kurtchi's three from the top of the key--out of the set offense.

But having edged closer at 34-26, the battling Vikings couldn't come any closer. Late in the third quarter, Anae scored on an inbounds pass from Strowbridge on one play. Saul sank a free throw after being fouled following a steal and taking the ball downcourt. Anae hit a three to beat the buzzer at the end of the period.

In the fourth quarter, the deficit again ballooned, this time to 15. In the late rally, Petra Eaton scored on a layup. Kurtchi hit a three. Strowbridge put in a layup, but the Vikings fell eight points short.

Wills finished with 19 points to lead all scorers, including three three-pointers. Reinhardt added 14.

For La Jolla, Anae had 11 points. No one else was in double figures for the host team.

A special event occurred in the Viking team huddle between the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth quarter. Saul shared with the team that she has been accepted to Harvard. Her teammates let out a whoop in celebration.