Saturday, January 6, 2024

LJ g BB 45, Hoover 57 - City League opener

Vikes' Soila Chadwick (20) vies against
Jewel Parker (1) of Hoover on free
throw in third quarter. Soila is a
freshman, Jewel a sophomore.


By Ed Piper

La Jolla played fast and furious, leading by as many as 11 points (27-16 late in the second quarter). The Vikings, playing their opening City League game at home Fri., Jan. 5, last led 36-35 with 7:08 left in the third period.

But Hoover scrapped and clawed a little bit harder, and pulled out to a nine-point 45-36 advantage midway through the final quarter, upping that lead to 57-45 in the end to take the conference game.

Sophomore Jewel Parker had 27 points, nine rebounds, and four assists to stymie the Viking twins, juniors Reagan and Drew Bennett, as well as 5'11" frontcourt steady Lucy Stadmiller, who is averaging 5.4 rebounds a game.

Guard Olivia Snider, a La Jolla field hockey standout, scored on a layup after good interior passing by Coach William Busch's offense to achieve the earlier 27-16 lead with 1:09 left in the second period.

Junior Annalyse Abrams made one of two free throws a short time before that for the points that built a nine-point lead over the Cardinals (1-0 in league, 6-6 overall), who featured 6'2" Jada Moore under the glass, pulling down 12 rebounds.

La Jolla (0-1 in league, 9-9 overall) also got a good effort from freshman Soila Chadwick, who is averaging 4.6 rebounds per game. Stadmiller, Chadwick, and Abrams got physical when they had to, as the pace picked up quite a bit in the second half as possessions became more dear.

The Vikings led, 27-18, at halftime as the size of the crowd in the Big Gym slowly increased. Busch's crew still hung close at 36-31 at the end of three quarters.

Lefty guard Drew Bennett banked in a shot from straight on with La Jolla leading 30-26 midway through the third quarter. She covered her mouth in reaction after making the shot, as the bank wasn't intended.

Chadwick, a forward willing to battle underneath, made a layup, the Vikes up 33-31. She came right back a minute later to can both free throws. The bench chanted, "She's a freshman."

With 12.0 seconds left in the third, senior Lainey Bradley took a hard foul. She made one of two free throws.

From there, Hoover led the entire fourth quarter following the tie at 36 with 6:51 left. The closest the Vikings came back was four, trailing 46-42, as Drew Bennett fouled out. Moments earlier, her sister Reagan committed her fifth foul, ending her night.

Isabella Policaro fouled out with 22.9 left.

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