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| Freshman wing Vincent Ricchiuti (right) in fourth quarter action at El Capitan Jan. 6. (Photo by Ed Piper) |
La Jolla defeated host El Capitan, 61-47, Mon., Jan. 6, winning back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Vikings edged University City three days earlier, 50-48.
In fact, the improving La Jollans have achieved half their wins (3 of 6) since Diego Solis' addition after football season. The Vikings (6-11) are 3-2 since starting the season 3-9. LJHS lost its first game after Solis returned, when he and the team had had no opportunity to practice together.
In a team sport, how's that for the impact one player can exert?
As Coach Paul Baranowski's squad repeated a pattern from Jan. 3's win over the Centurions, building a big lead--this time not allowing the lead to dissipate before a weaker team, as they had done at UC three days earlier--it became evident at El Capitan before a sparse crowd on a dark, chilly night that Diego's presence releases scoring leader Christian Gamboa to do what he does best.
Both the Centurions and Vaqueros were not prepared for the lightning attack that La Jolla can unleash in the person of Gamboa's slashing drives to the basket, come hell or high water.
In the case of UC, the surprise and lack of early adjustments showed themselves in what became a 19-point lead midway through the game.
By the Barona Casino Lakeside Rodeo Arena (just outside the entrance to the high school, near the animal stalls that are part of the school's FFA program), El Cap, already lacking an effective offense, found itself looking up from 18 points down.
The Vaqueros, who used to have a strong program, seemed to hardly know what had hit them. For a variety of reasons, the school in the last few years hasn't been able to hold onto a boys varsity coach, and they are now on their latest new one, Elias Totah-which means change, turnover, and a new approach--yet again.
Opposite them, Baranowski got some welcome production from diminutive sophomore guard Brennan Ross, who fired two three-pointers in the first quarter, then two more in the third quarter. There hadn't been a lot of scoring coming from outside the core of the Vikings' "big three" of Gamboa, Solis, and forward Max Raulston lately. So this was a good sign.
La Jolla jumped out to a sizable 17-6 first period lead. Gamboa, cutting through even a zone defense from his position at the top of the key, had three baskets in the opening stanza, including a three-pointer. He continued right into into the second quarter with two more buckets, and a multitude of free throw opportunities from getting fouled off the dribble, his trademark. Christian made all four of his free throws in the second quarter.
Though El Capitan, in a gym perfectly shaped to amplify only a few people's yells, fought back, mainly behind big man Jacob Pfitzner, averaging 21.6 points a game, the lead was still 12, 33-21, at halftime.
Not to overstate and repeat the obvious, but Solis, who hadn't touched a basketball in five months, looked more and more like the "old" Diego against the Vaqueros. No doubt Baranowski encouraged the 5'9" mighty mite to look for his shot as well.
He did, with several drives under control. others a little unbalanced. The lefty drove the baseline from the right side early in the second quarter to score, a thing of beauty for a 19-8 lead.
The lead peaked at 18 at 44-26 near the halfway point of the second period. Despite Pfitzner's 18 points on the night, including two three's (as a sophomore, the senior apparently set a record for three's with 32), the hosts could get no closer than nine the rest of the way.
Gamboa finished with 21, including a pair of treys. Ross had 14. Raulston added 10 and Solis nine, still feeling his oats.
A welcome finish was Baranowski's sending out on the floor with 1:22 left and a 14-point lead several who had not seen much playing time lately: Cole Black recorded his first career block and two free throws. Luke Brunette got a chance to shake the cobwebs.
These were in addition to Blaise Colburn, who had appeared earlier, and Ryan Lancaster. James Hanson saw action in more than one quarter. DeAndre Vaz got playing time, as well.
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