By Ed Piper
I have two observations from La Jolla's 1-0 win in the second round of the CIF Division 4 playoffs in boys soccer Sat., Feb. 27, besides the majestic osprey, with his large wingspan, soaring over the field at the start of the game.
First, after Viking Jack Barone knocked in the lone goal just before halftime, I was reminded how success brings a relaxation from tenseness. When the players came to the sideline, they were whooping, hollering, joking with each other. This was in direct contrast to the controlled, possibly tight, demeanor they exhibited only a short time before.
When we experience a good result, we naturally loosen all our muscles and our mind is freed to think, plan, create. At least that's what I thought I saw happening among the La Jolla players, a dynamic which I and all other sports observers have seen happen many times before.
The Viking players' confidence soared, as the bird had 40 minutes earlier. Going into the second half against Crawford, now leading instead of struggling in a no-score tie, La Jolla would be a formidable foe.
Isn't it ironic that we naturally relax after achieving a step forward, when in reality we would benefit if we could let tension go during the adversity? That's what all performers work toward--in sports it's now called "slowing things down".
My second observation has to do with soccer (and some other sports): Once the Vikings went into the lead, they were now faced with the fact they didn't want to lose that lead in the second 40-minute period. I didn't observe them being tentative or hesitant in the second half. But--since goals are so rare in soccer, and an opponent can easily knock in a goal when you least expect it, even when you're playing solid defense--La Jolla couldn't afford to allow a tie, then go into an overtime in which anything could happen.
So, as the second half progressed and the minutes were ticking down, the Viking players were actually playing to avoid losing, as opposed to attacking to win. In trying to score another goal, you can use up valuable resources and suffer a counterattack, giving up an avoidable goal.
As I sat at the end of benches on the Mission Bay High field (where La Jolla had the home game, since Edwards Stadium is all torn up) away from the LJHS players, with my camera propped up, the coaches paced back and forth, barking out commands, propping up players, conferring on what defensive player to send in to use the limited substitutions wisely.
Assistant coach Victor Zendejas, who is always quite vocal, told defender Alejandro Romano, who he calls "Ali", "Animales, diles que hablen y griten" ("Get them [his fellow defenders] fired up, tell them to talk and get loud"). Head coach Marcos Gonzales is much more subdued outwardly.
The energy released at the end of the game, the victory secure 1-0, came from all the focus on not allowing a tying goal, as well as the celebration of the win. La Jolla hasn't gone into the third round of the playoffs in a while.
The Vikings play Serra in the semifinals Wed., March 2. They have the higher seed, so it will be another home game, most likely at Mission Bay again.
Since teams are placed in the playoffs by power rankings, one reward for La Jolla's lower performance in the last few years is placement in Division 4, which allows the Vikings more opportunities for success.
Monday, February 29, 2016
Sunday, February 28, 2016
LJ b BB 61, Helix 59
By Ed Piper
Senior Eddie Parker scored the winning basket on a driving layup from the left wing with five seconds left, as La Jolla defeated Helix, 61-59, Sat., Feb. 27, to move into the CIF Division 2 semifinals.
The feisty Highlanders had tied the game 59-59 with 12 seconds left on a three-point bomb. The Vikings held a 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but saw that lead erode steadily through the fourth quarter.
Guard Reed Farley had deposited a layup with 27.6 seconds on the clock to put the host La Jollans in the lead before a big student crowd, the loudest of the year. After the girls water polo championship game ended, a number of students came over from the pool and crowded the floor along the western sideline.
"In the huddle after they shot the three, Coach (Paul Baranowski) said Reed take the ball," recounted Parker, amid the student crowd that flooded the floor at the final buzzer and was still milling around the court. "Number 13 was just standing there. Reed couldn't get open. I thought I might do something.
"So I did what I think I do best, which is attack the basket."
Parker, in his second high-scoring playoff game after a drought, finished with 21 points. His backcourt mate, Farley, had 14. A third guard, Nick Hammel, plunked in 10.
The Vikings led 33-22 at halftime. The margin narrowed to six points in the third quarter, with the score 47-38 at the end of the period.
La Jolla travels to West Hills (the number-one seed) Tues., March 1, for the semifinal tilt. The Vikings are seeded fourth.
Senior Eddie Parker scored the winning basket on a driving layup from the left wing with five seconds left, as La Jolla defeated Helix, 61-59, Sat., Feb. 27, to move into the CIF Division 2 semifinals.
The feisty Highlanders had tied the game 59-59 with 12 seconds left on a three-point bomb. The Vikings held a 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but saw that lead erode steadily through the fourth quarter.
Guard Reed Farley had deposited a layup with 27.6 seconds on the clock to put the host La Jollans in the lead before a big student crowd, the loudest of the year. After the girls water polo championship game ended, a number of students came over from the pool and crowded the floor along the western sideline.
"In the huddle after they shot the three, Coach (Paul Baranowski) said Reed take the ball," recounted Parker, amid the student crowd that flooded the floor at the final buzzer and was still milling around the court. "Number 13 was just standing there. Reed couldn't get open. I thought I might do something.
"So I did what I think I do best, which is attack the basket."
Parker, in his second high-scoring playoff game after a drought, finished with 21 points. His backcourt mate, Farley, had 14. A third guard, Nick Hammel, plunked in 10.
The Vikings led 33-22 at halftime. The margin narrowed to six points in the third quarter, with the score 47-38 at the end of the period.
La Jolla travels to West Hills (the number-one seed) Tues., March 1, for the semifinal tilt. The Vikings are seeded fourth.
LJ b soccer 1, Crawford 0
By Ed Piper
A pair of ospreys cackled from their nest atop a light stanchion at Mission Bay High's stadium as both teams stood at midfield during the first half of the National Anthem, then one sprang from the nest to soar high over the field during the remainder of the anthem before La Jolla's second-round boys soccer match against Crawford Sat., Feb. 27.
It seemed to be a good sign, and it was for the Vikings, who haven't seen much playoff action in recent years. Jack Barone, back from a long absence due to an injury, popped in the lone goal of the game after the clock stopped at the end of the first half, and La Jolla made it stand up for the 1-0 victory.
A pair of ospreys cackled from their nest atop a light stanchion at Mission Bay High's stadium as both teams stood at midfield during the first half of the National Anthem, then one sprang from the nest to soar high over the field during the remainder of the anthem before La Jolla's second-round boys soccer match against Crawford Sat., Feb. 27.
It seemed to be a good sign, and it was for the Vikings, who haven't seen much playoff action in recent years. Jack Barone, back from a long absence due to an injury, popped in the lone goal of the game after the clock stopped at the end of the first half, and La Jolla made it stand up for the 1-0 victory.
LJ g water polo 4, Bishop's 5
By Ed Piper
Sydney Boland scored on a lob from in close to knot the game 2-2 midway through the second quarter, but La Jolla went into halftime with a 4-2 deficit and saw rival Bishop's secure its sixth straight CIF title with a 5-4 win Saturday evening, Feb. 27, at Coggan Pool.
Boland's shot, coming with 3:51 left in the period, followed teammate Ciara Franke's goal from center forward position in the first minute of the game. Franke's tally likewise tied the game, this one at 1-1.
Viking goalie Bennett Bugelli made several excellent stops as Bishop's, the two-seed to La Jolla's one-seed in the Open Division, came with aggression and gave the red and black their first test in the playoffs.
For six seniors on the LJHS squad, this was their last time playing together. They had been playing together on club and school teams since the fifth grade.
Large and expressive student cheering sections from both schools exchanged chants. Seven Vike students wore red paint spelling out "V-I-K-I-N-G-S" on their collective bare chests in the evening cool. They first stood up out of order.
"What time is it?" "Knight time" won out in the end.
Sydney Boland scored on a lob from in close to knot the game 2-2 midway through the second quarter, but La Jolla went into halftime with a 4-2 deficit and saw rival Bishop's secure its sixth straight CIF title with a 5-4 win Saturday evening, Feb. 27, at Coggan Pool.
Boland's shot, coming with 3:51 left in the period, followed teammate Ciara Franke's goal from center forward position in the first minute of the game. Franke's tally likewise tied the game, this one at 1-1.
Viking goalie Bennett Bugelli made several excellent stops as Bishop's, the two-seed to La Jolla's one-seed in the Open Division, came with aggression and gave the red and black their first test in the playoffs.
For six seniors on the LJHS squad, this was their last time playing together. They had been playing together on club and school teams since the fifth grade.
Large and expressive student cheering sections from both schools exchanged chants. Seven Vike students wore red paint spelling out "V-I-K-I-N-G-S" on their collective bare chests in the evening cool. They first stood up out of order.
"What time is it?" "Knight time" won out in the end.
Friday, February 26, 2016
LJ g BB 45, Bonita Vista 57
Satori Roberson (left) shows
her defensive prowess
against Daeshya Battle.
(Photo by Ed Piper)
By Ed Piper
A curious thing happened when host Bonita Vista broke out to a commanding 17-4 lead early in the second quarter in the Barons' CIF Division 2 playoff opener against La Jolla.
The Vikings didn't give up.
In a season in which new coach Darice Carnaje has preached getting better every game and playing for the joy of basketball, the inexperienced Vikings used a high-low offense Carnaje switched to after a 13-4 first quarter deficit to relax a little and to open the floor for more scoring opportunities.
Center Satori Roberson, herself emblematic of La Jolla's improvement over the course of the year, stood at the free throw line and found teammate Sina Anae at the low post for cuts behind the defense.
Trouble continued at the mid-court line, where point guard Rebecca Saul was under assault bringing the ball up court against the wicked pressure of Bonita's hard-working guards, tiny Alexis Lopez and Shyla LaTone.
That didn't get much better quickly, as the Vikings fell back to trailing 28-15 at halftime. But Saul started finding fellow guard Abby Ward and others nearby to pass to. La Jolla had closed the gap to eight points midway through the second quarter.
Unfortunately, the Vikings, though spirited, experienced a third quarter dropout, going from a nine-point deficit at 37-28 to losing 46-28 within a couple of minutes. The damage was done, but once again, Carnaje's crew didn't fold.
The red and black kept their pride and lost by a respectable 12 points in the final result.
LaTone, a stellar outside shooter, scorched the Vikings for 30 points. Included in her long-range arsenal were four three-pointers. Repeatedly, she put daggers in the Vikes' hearts with jumpers to slow down or reverse rallies.
Roberson, enjoying her best season as a senior by far, had a big impact in bringing her team back within eight points in the second period. She scored three straight baskets late in the quarter. First, Satori took a rebound and put it back up with 4:20 left in the half.
Then, after failing to finish on a drive, she had another putback for a bucket with 1:43 on the clock.
The third of her trio of scores came on an assist from Saul, who found her with 55 seconds left.
After the game, Carnaje complimented her players and applauded their steady improvement during the season in a closing circle outside the gym. No one had their head down, despite the season-ending loss.
LJ g water polo 14, Valhalla 6
Captain Lexi Atwell lobs yet another La Jolla missile
in the first half as Vikings stifle Valhalla, 11-4.
(Photo by Ed Piper)
By Ed Piper
La Jolla's top-ranked girls water polo team unleashed another blistering attack to smother Valhalla 14-6 in the CIF Open Division semifinals Thurs., Feb. 25, in the friendly confines of Coggan Pool.
This time five different Vikings got into the scoring act as they broke out to a 4-0 first quarter lead, then an insurmountable 8-0 advantage at halftime. It was 12-3 after three quarters.
Junior Kira Bruno, who hasn't been getting all the headlines lately among her talented teammates on the first-seed La Jolla squad, opened up scoring less than a minute into the contest with her goal. Two a half minutes later, big Ciara Franke delivered the first of her two goals in the first half from the center-forward spot directly in front of the goal.
In the last minute of the opening stanza, leading scorer Karli Canale drilled a shot from the five position to the left of the cage. Seconds later, senior captain Lexi Atwell added her first of an early pair of goals. La Jolla led, 4-0.
As Sydney Boland, Atwell again, a dominating Franke, then the junior Boland again scored goals in short order in the second quarter for the 8-0 halftime lead, the Viking defense led by goalie Bennett Bugelli was smothering Valhalla at the other end of the pool.
The Norsewomen, undefeated as Grossmont Hills League champions and the fifth seed in the Open Division bracket, were no match for torrid La Jolla, which beat El Camino in the quarterfinals, 11-4. Valhalla didn't manage to score until two minutes into the third quarter, a goal by Gabrielle Martinez.
At least in the quarterfinal match last Saturday overmatched El Camino was able to score a goal in the second quarter. This beating was worse, if that's possible.
The Vikings, now 25-4, have had to keep their eyes on the prize without any help from the competition in the playoffs. In fact, there hasn't been any competition in the upper bracket. Winning by big margins, Coach Keller Felt's squad has had to maintain its own focus and intensity. It has not been tested in the playoffs.
Looming in the lower bracket is archrival Bishop's, the second seed, which came back to defeat Carlsbad 8-7 in the later game. La Jolla lost to the Knights in the semifinals last year.
The title tilt is set for 7 p.m. Sat., Feb. 27, at Coggan.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
LJ b BB 66, Canyon Crest 53
By Ed Piper
Canyon Crest guards Ryan Michaels and Tyler Elsom were creating havoc with outside shots against La Jolla in the first half of their first-round CIF Division 2 basketball game Wed., Feb. 24.
While the 6'2" Michaels hit two three-pointers and added a trio of free throws, and the diminutive Elsom, listed generously at 5'9", canned four threes and a pair of two-point goals, the visiting Ravens--seeded 13th to the Vikings' 4th seed--built up a seven-point bulge in the second quarter to lead 33-26. The hosts did come back to forge a narrow 35-33 at the half.
During halftime, La Jolla regrouped. Coach Paul Baranowski said the adjustment was a change in the way Nick Hammel and Eddie Parker guarded the hot Michaels and Elsom, respectively. Instead of going over or under the screen, the Viking defenders were to stay closer to their men.
It worked. With Elsom shut off completely from the floor in the second half, and Michaels limited to three layups with no outside bombs, La Jolla stayed consistent on the offensive end of the floor to build a nine-point lead, 46-37, midway through the third quarter.
The Vikes never led by less than six from there on, securing a 60-49 lead with 1:30 left in the playoff game on a pair of free throws by Parker. They won 66-53 before a polite but appreciative home crowd.
Senior Alex Pitrofsky had a season-high 28 points for the victors to lead all scorers. Earlier he scored 22 in a win over University City. Parker finished with 13 in addition to his defensive work on Elsom.
For the Ravens, Elsom had 17 points, while both Michaels and athletic Daymian Vajda had 16 each.
La Jolla (17-10) enjoys another home game Saturday evening, Feb. 27, in the second round of CIF against Helix, the fifth seed, which defeated Valley Center 61-45. The Highlanders have obviously righted the ship after getting clobbered by the Vikings in the season opener at Petco Park 55-30 on Dec. 1.
"They (Hamel and Parker) were guarding number 5 (the junior Michaels) and number 23 (Elsom, a sophomore)," said a smiling Baranowski afterward of the first half shots. "But they weren't getting up close enough to them. So we had to change the way they were covering them."
La Jolla had known going in that Canyon Crest had some shooters. Forward Charlie Gal, before the game, commented, "We have to close out really well. They have a lot of good shooters."
On the other bench, Raven coach Brian Baum cautioned that his players needed to block out the Vikings. "They're huge," he said. Baranowski was amused. "Not in our league," he said when told of his counterpart's comment.
Canyon Crest's center, Sawyer Lebert, who guarded Pitrofsky, has length at 6'7". He was physical with Alex, though not an offensive threat. But he wasn't successful in slowing down the mobile Pitrofsky, who goes at 6'6".
The Viking center, playing his final year at La Jolla, was a virtual point machine in the first two quarters, with four baskets in each period. He had 19 points at halftime.
Pitrofsky had a putback at 5-4, CCA leading. He took a pass from Hamel on another basket. He followed a miss with another score. Then he tied the game, 10-10, with two minutes left in the opening stanza with a jump shot.
In the second quarter, Reed Farley fed him for a bucket that he was fouled on. He made the free throw, the Vikings trailing 22-21 with 4:57 left in the period. He made another layup, then yet another as Vajda committed his third personal and had to sit out the remaining four minutes of the half.
Vajda, a team co-captain with Michaels, showed some nice moves inside as he carried much of the Raven offense in the second half with the guards stifled. The senior drove the baseline on the right side frequently for a trey of baskets in the third quarter, three more in the closing quarter.
Morgan Albers, another Viking senior in his last CIF playoff run, was the most effective he has been in the memory of one reporter. Down the stretch, in the fourth quarter, he made three crucial baskets.
Opening the period, with Canyon Crest knocking on the door, trailing only 48-42, Albers put a ball in for an eight-point lead.
Then, after Vajda drove to score his third straight basket for the Ravens, Albers turned his back to the hoop and made his signature left-handed move to bank the ball off the glass and put his team up, 58-48. There was 3:38 on the clock.
In between, the 6'4" Morgan persisted after having a shot blocked by Canyon's M.J. Metz to gather the ball up and put it in.
Canyon Crest guards Ryan Michaels and Tyler Elsom were creating havoc with outside shots against La Jolla in the first half of their first-round CIF Division 2 basketball game Wed., Feb. 24.
While the 6'2" Michaels hit two three-pointers and added a trio of free throws, and the diminutive Elsom, listed generously at 5'9", canned four threes and a pair of two-point goals, the visiting Ravens--seeded 13th to the Vikings' 4th seed--built up a seven-point bulge in the second quarter to lead 33-26. The hosts did come back to forge a narrow 35-33 at the half.
During halftime, La Jolla regrouped. Coach Paul Baranowski said the adjustment was a change in the way Nick Hammel and Eddie Parker guarded the hot Michaels and Elsom, respectively. Instead of going over or under the screen, the Viking defenders were to stay closer to their men.
It worked. With Elsom shut off completely from the floor in the second half, and Michaels limited to three layups with no outside bombs, La Jolla stayed consistent on the offensive end of the floor to build a nine-point lead, 46-37, midway through the third quarter.
The Vikes never led by less than six from there on, securing a 60-49 lead with 1:30 left in the playoff game on a pair of free throws by Parker. They won 66-53 before a polite but appreciative home crowd.
Senior Alex Pitrofsky had a season-high 28 points for the victors to lead all scorers. Earlier he scored 22 in a win over University City. Parker finished with 13 in addition to his defensive work on Elsom.
For the Ravens, Elsom had 17 points, while both Michaels and athletic Daymian Vajda had 16 each.
La Jolla (17-10) enjoys another home game Saturday evening, Feb. 27, in the second round of CIF against Helix, the fifth seed, which defeated Valley Center 61-45. The Highlanders have obviously righted the ship after getting clobbered by the Vikings in the season opener at Petco Park 55-30 on Dec. 1.
"They (Hamel and Parker) were guarding number 5 (the junior Michaels) and number 23 (Elsom, a sophomore)," said a smiling Baranowski afterward of the first half shots. "But they weren't getting up close enough to them. So we had to change the way they were covering them."
La Jolla had known going in that Canyon Crest had some shooters. Forward Charlie Gal, before the game, commented, "We have to close out really well. They have a lot of good shooters."
On the other bench, Raven coach Brian Baum cautioned that his players needed to block out the Vikings. "They're huge," he said. Baranowski was amused. "Not in our league," he said when told of his counterpart's comment.
Canyon Crest's center, Sawyer Lebert, who guarded Pitrofsky, has length at 6'7". He was physical with Alex, though not an offensive threat. But he wasn't successful in slowing down the mobile Pitrofsky, who goes at 6'6".
The Viking center, playing his final year at La Jolla, was a virtual point machine in the first two quarters, with four baskets in each period. He had 19 points at halftime.
Pitrofsky had a putback at 5-4, CCA leading. He took a pass from Hamel on another basket. He followed a miss with another score. Then he tied the game, 10-10, with two minutes left in the opening stanza with a jump shot.
In the second quarter, Reed Farley fed him for a bucket that he was fouled on. He made the free throw, the Vikings trailing 22-21 with 4:57 left in the period. He made another layup, then yet another as Vajda committed his third personal and had to sit out the remaining four minutes of the half.
Vajda, a team co-captain with Michaels, showed some nice moves inside as he carried much of the Raven offense in the second half with the guards stifled. The senior drove the baseline on the right side frequently for a trey of baskets in the third quarter, three more in the closing quarter.
Morgan Albers, another Viking senior in his last CIF playoff run, was the most effective he has been in the memory of one reporter. Down the stretch, in the fourth quarter, he made three crucial baskets.
Opening the period, with Canyon Crest knocking on the door, trailing only 48-42, Albers put a ball in for an eight-point lead.
Then, after Vajda drove to score his third straight basket for the Ravens, Albers turned his back to the hoop and made his signature left-handed move to bank the ball off the glass and put his team up, 58-48. There was 3:38 on the clock.
In between, the 6'4" Morgan persisted after having a shot blocked by Canyon's M.J. Metz to gather the ball up and put it in.
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