By Ed Piper
There were two patterns of play for La Jolla's basketball team against Olympian--the scrambled, can't-shoot-straight activity that landed the Vikings a deficit of 28-8 early in the second quarter, and another more effective approach that saw Eli Vaz and company come back to within 36-29 late in the first half.
Which would win out?
La Jolla got thumped on the second day of the tournament they were hosting in the Big Gym, 71-49, as the Eagles employed "little ball" and saw compact guards Isaiah Aquino and Sammel Humphries go to races on steals and resulting layups, besides some key outside shooting.
The third quarter wasn't bad, from the Vikings' perspective, being outscored only 18-14. But they couldn't hang in the fourth and crucial period, dropping the 22-point decision in the end.
Aquin scored 13 points, his backcourt mate 10, but they came at crucial times. Lefty guard Michael Contreras led La Jolla with 15 points, including 7 of 10 free throws. Vaz had 12.
During the good streak in the second quarter, 6'5" forward Lance Braga and Vaz, a 5'9" guard, teamed up to score several points back-to-back and cut the Olympian lead. Braga made a basket and one, a three-point play for 33-14 after a Baranowski timeout.
Football players Nick Sebro and Marley LaFond showed up for moral support for their teammates, whom they will join after the Viking football season concludes. "JD", Jackson Diehl, the quarterback, wasn't able to make this game after attending Monday's win.
Vaz then drove for a layup, turning to the right, then the left on his push to the basket. The Eagles called a timeout with the score 33-17. Not great, but better.
Lance then shortly stepped to the free throw line and sank two free throws. Vaz hit a three from beyond the arc with 2:18 left in the period.
The pair helped decrease an Eagle lead that reached 20 (28-8) down to seven late in the second period, 36-29.
A curious circumstance meant Jake Baranowski, Paul's son, at the scorer's table, had to call out the time remaining when the clock when on the fritz with one minute left in the prior game. Point Loma won that one, 54-48, over St. Joseph's.
This continued through the nightcap. Another person at the scorer's table had to keep track of time left on the 35-second shot clock, and call those numbers out.
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