LJ b BB 57, Canyon Hills 51

By Ed Piper

Put it down to the "crunch" guys, senior guards Michael Contreras and Nick Sebro, down the stretch when La Jolla's lead was dwindling and the Vikings needed them to make free throws.

Coach Paul Baranowski's squad built a lead that reached 18 points midway through the third quarter against Canyon Hills, the Central League's first-place team, at home, Tues., Feb. 6.

But then, after Vike guard Brody Sessa hit a three from the right corner with 4:39 left in the game, points became scarce as the Rattlers staged a furious comeback attempt.

Forward Lance Braga subbed back in for Jaime Guzman as Baranowski opted for some rebounding, and Sessa banged in one of two free throws in the bonus for a 47-35 La Jolla lead, only 2:32 remaining.

Canyon Hills' T.J. Cureton drove for a bucket. While Braga missed both ends after another foul, Cureton went one-on-one and drove on a zone defense to score again--a near one-man show. 47-39, Vikings still up.

Lefty guard Contreras made the second of two at 1:29, the lead barely hanging in there at nine.

After Cureton cured the Vikes again, driving straight down the middle against their pressure to score, the lead shrinking to seven measly points, senior captain Eli Vaz dropped in the first of a pair of charity tosses.

A three by Rattler Elliot Noonan from the right put the La Jolla lead at a miniscule five points with 58.2 seconds to play. Scary. Had all the air been let out of the bag in trying to protect the earlier lead?

Baranowski, a 32-year veteran, called timeout. Coming out of it, Contreras, another senior, sank both free throws when fouled in the Canyon Hills full-court press. 42.1 seconds remaining.

The visitors' Gabe Orila, a sophomore, laid the ball up on a drive with 31.7 left. Back to five points, 51-46.

Rapid Sebro dropped in two free throws. 53-46, 24.0 seconds on the clock, some breathing room.

Canyon Hills threw the ball away under La Jolla's rabid press. That was pretty much it, with the clock wound down to 19.0. Sebro in-bounded the ball to Contreras, who was fouled immediately to stop the clock. He canned both shots.

Seventeen-point-seven seconds left, 55-46.

At 6.9 seconds, Sebro made two more free throws, 57-49, and it was over. Final: 57-51.

Both teams are now 5-2, tied for the Central League lead. One game left.