Soph guard Brody Sessa (11)
pops a jumper from the left
side against Point Loma
Fri., Jan.. 5.
(Photo by Ed Piper)
By Ed Piper
La Jolla dropped a close 71-64 contest to visiting Point Loma Fri., Jan. 5, in the two teams' 2024 Central League opener before a large crowd on hand to take in the Viking girls' and boys' squads in a Friday night doubleheader in the Big Gym.
Both La Jolla and Point Loma boys teams showed the increased intensity of the league schedule, playing quick and physically hard.
Coach Paul Baranowski's 12th squad (dating back to 2012), before their adoring fans, started off trailing the Pointers 6-2 but tied the score at 11 with 2:55 left in the first quarter. In that spurt, Vike Marley LaFond hit a three from straight out, then senior point guard Eli Vaz buried another jumper from the free throw line.
But Point Loma (1-0 in the Central League, 12-5 overall) steadily built a seven-point lead by the end of the opening stanza, 22-15, behind sophomore guard Na'Sean Hardy's quick moves to the basket.
Vike guard Nick Sebro and LaFond had starting roles. Sebro, especially, seemed to continue to inject a little more pace and uptempo into the Vikings' attack with his quickness.
La Jolla experienced a mini-dry spell, surrendering seven straight points (including a buzzer-beater long-distance three by PLHS at the first quarter horn) before Vaz knocked down a two-pointer with 6:47 remaining in the second period, 26-18.
The Pointer lead reached 10 at 30-20, before forward Jackson Diehl drove for a bucket, soph Brody Sessa hit from inside the paint, and senior Michael Contreras dropped in a left-handed jumper. The half ended, the Vikings (now 0-1 in league, 11-7 overall) down 36-28.
On the night, Contreras led the Vikings with 24 points on 8 of 17, including 2 of 4 three-point attempts. LaFond was next with 13 points on 5 for 10, with his one three.
Diehl grabbed eight rebounds, while Sebro and Sessa each copped three steals apiece. Vaz dished out three assists.
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