LJ FH 0, Scripps Ranch 2 - Open Division quarterfinals - 11/5

Photos by Ed Piper

Domino Ashby (right) defends

as Scripps' Sammy Ippolito moves

the ball. Ippolito scored the Falcons'

second goal with 10 minutes left

in the game.

The Vikings' Talia Snider (4, left) plays

in her final high school match. Avery

Archer (17) blocks her shot. Archer

scored the Falcons' first and deciding

goal in the initial quarter.

La Jolla's defense successfully stops a

Scripps shot in the third quarter, including

goalie Adalee Branstetter (pink jersey,

on the ground).

Frida Soto Lopez (9) works

in front of the two team

benches in the fourth quarter.

Sofia Saiegh (10) powers the ball toward

the goal in closing moments.

A praying mantis invaded the Vikings'

bench area in the second half.

Domino Ashby tries to retrieve a ball

from the near sideline, but the ball

went out of bounds. #15 for the Falcons

is Vivian Peciaro.

LJ b water polo: Looking ahead to Open semifinals

By Ed Piper

Now that La Jolla's boys water polo team has won its quarterfinal match in the Open playoffs--an 18-7 win over Carlsbad Wed., Nov. 4--the next question has to do with the semifinals Tues., Nov. 10.

The Vikings, under Coach Tom Atwell, face Bishop's in their quest to repeat as Open Division champions. Can the Knights keep Vike scorer Dexter Black under wraps?

The answer is yes: Ian Davidson and Doug Peabody's squad can and did limit the 6'8" Black in their return Western League match Oct. 21 in a 17-15 win. If Dex operates unfettered, and is able to wheel and deal with his creativity on offense, opponents are going to have a tough time. If they can shut the 2025 Player of the Year off, or at least neutralize him, they then have to concentrate on the Vikings' other threats.

It should be noted that Cathedral Catholic, under Coach Tommy Corcoran, hasn't had any problem defending Black this season. Put one player on the able attacker, and make adjustments in other parts of the defense, and their work becomes much more manageable.

The Dons, who have their own aquatic club to develop their athletes in, handled La Jolla both times they faced them in league play--16-15 at Coggan Pool in a cliffhanger Sept. 23 to start Western League action, and an easy 17-12 win at home Oct. 14.

The Knights have only been successful in this task one of two times. In their home game against the Vikes in the first round, Davidson had to remind his players as action went on to not pass over Black--who, on the defensive side, was helping create havoc by intercepting passes. The coach, rightly, interpreted that and communicated it to his players.

Atwell's crew is talented enough that, first, Henry Glenister at center can score. Then Lev Kevorkian, and ultimately Quinn Daniels can deliver when their teammate Black is heavily defended. Finally, Jude Laifa, a junior who has ably stepped into the starting lineup this season, will deliver at key times.

The issue in the quarterfinals against Carlsbad was that the Lancers just didn't have a defender who could handle Dexter capably. Time and again, the Air Force Academy commit was able to range freely on the four-five side, the right side of the box, and break loose. When he's given that freedom, he will create plays and feed his teammates, including Laifa on the other side.

Even more dangerously, Black will freelance and hover, like he did in the second half when the ball sprang loose when La Jolla was on offense, in front of the cage. He gently tapped the ball in, as Carlsbad's goalie was left alone with Dexter waiting for just the right moment.

From Atwell's standpoint, the Vikings must create opportunities for their other offensive options when their big star is shut off. Bishop's, in the impending semifinals, has the ability to neutralize him, as they have shown already this season. Then the others, primarily Daniels, Kevorkian, and Laifa, must be able to score out of the offense.

Glenister will be heavily occupied at center, with the physical push-and-pull that position requires. He doesn't have to score a million goals for the Vikings to do well. But the others have to be freed on the perimeter for shot opportunities.

La Jolla and Bishop's are extremely close as far as matchups and team strength. It should be a tight battle under the lights at Coggan.

LJ FB: Central Union to travel two hours to La Jolla

By Ed Piper

The Spartans of Central Union High, from steamy El Centro, have an incredible 200-member marching band, cheerleaders, and a community that supports the local team.

That's what you do in a rural, family-focused region--go to Friday Night Lights, watch the only show in town plus the talented musicians who cavort in precision during halftime.

As you dig deeper, you find people in the Imperial Valley who are passionate Central Union fans, Brawley fans (the "little brother" seven miles away), Imperial fans, Holtville. They all travel immense distances to support their teams when they play at San Diego schools, and when it's wrestling or some other sport that involves tournaments, parents and family make it an all-day event.

Well, this is who La Jolla faces in the first round of the Division 3 playoffs tomorrow night, Fri., Nov. 6. A passionate base, winners or losers, wearing school apparel to carry the torch.

The Spartans, 1-3 in the Imperial Valley League and 6-4 overall, got smoked to start the season at home against La Costa Canyon, 35-0. That was like La Jolla's venture to host Cathedral Catholic, another superpower, which ended similarly.

In league, the Unitarians jolted tiny Calexico, 42-6, for their best beat-down of the season. They were on the wrong side of losses to Valley opponents Imperial (34-10), Holtville (50-7), and Brawley (14-7).

El Centro is mostly going to hand off the ball to running backs Fidel Camarena Jr. or Fernando Bolanos. Camarena, a senior, has 10 ground touchdowns on 113 carries for 660 yards, in the most recent statistics posted by the staff.

Bolanos, a junior, has rushed 63 times for 557 yards and five TD's.

Alec Hernandez, a senior quarterback, has distributed his 65 completions on 113 attempts for 720 yards mostly among four primary receivers: seniors Angel Vasquez with 235 yards, Dominic Torres with 143 yards, Hector Lino Jr. with 105 yards, and Camarena, the multi-purpose back, with 95 yards.

The Vikings had the long-distance experience of traveling to El Centro several years ago, in extreme heat, and playing a night game that also featured the Spartan marching band at halftime The place was packed. It was a tough environment. The date was August 17, 2018--La Jolla's second year under present Head Coach Tyler Roach. Central wasn't very nice, downing the Vikings 40-14.

LJ b water polo: Game story 11/4

By Ed Piper

Carlsbad coach Mike Mulvey didn't sugarcoat the daunting task of facing La Jolla in the first round of the CIF Open playoffs. "It's going to be tough. I'm not going to lie," said Mulvey, showing a little smile as he talked about having to stop Viking star Dexter Black on offense.

"You have to be physical (to defend him). He's super-tall, he's a super player."

The Lancers were charged up, ready to slay the giant in the first quarter Wed., Nov. 4. They scored the match's opening goal, with only 44 seconds elapsed, before Black, last year's CIF Player of the Year on a 6'8" frame, tied it with his own goal a half minute later.

With a large crowd in attendance, Carlsbad repeatedly took the lead behind Kai Brousseau, Connor Marshall, and Torin Peters, the hosts coming back to knot the score each time at 2-2, 3-3, and 4-4, before La Jolla went into the first quarter break leading 5-4 behind Jude Laifa's score from the perimeter.

Viking coach Tom Atwell, vociferous as always, kept with his game plan. You could see the Lancers were playing above their heads, soon having to substitute players in as the intensity of the game continued.

In the second quarter, the red-and-black created some separation, moving out to a 10-5 lead behind goals by Henry Glenister, a lefthander like Black, Laifa, Dexter again, Lev Kevorkian, and Quinn Daniels--all the usual suspects.

Black's second goal was a product of his further refinement in the Junior Worlds in Portugal this past summer, waving the ball in the air in his left hand, taking Carlsbad goalie Max Carr on one-on-one. Dex dropped the ball in the cage from the one-foot range, defending him single-handedly when he's hot a near-impossible task.

Mulvey's crew regrouped a little after catching their breath at halftime, trailing 10-6. After the Vikings' Barney Pearce was fouled--which later infuriated him so much, he had to sit out on a misconduct call--Black succeeded on the resulting penalty shot. That made it 11-6, before Karson Gebauer lofted a floater over La Jolla goalie Addie Calhoun to close again to within four.

Atwell was really getting perturbed now, but the rest of the half was smooth sailing before the subs were called in for both teams late in the fourth quarter.. The final count was 18-7.

Before the wreckage was cleared, back at 14-7, Dexter watchfully nudged the ball in during a skirmish in front of the cage with eight seconds left in the third.

*  *  *

Brian Wilbur of the section Aquatic Committee said during the game that new "storming" rules prohibiting jumping into the pool by fans during a celebration have recently been instituted by the State CIF. He said he didn't know what the consequences would be if someone violated the new rules, but he and a reporter were speaking about the Vikings' CIF Open title celebration last fall when numerous LJHS students jumped into the pool.

LJ b water polo 18, Carlsbad 7 - CIF Open playoffs - quarterfinals - 11/4

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ goalie Addie Calhoun (far left) and

teammate guard Karson Gebauer (13,

with ball) with a tie score near the end

of the first quarter.

LJ FH 0, Bishop's 5 - 10/29

Photos by Ed Piper

Viking goalie Adalee Branstetter (77, pink)

defends against the Bishop's attack in early

going.

(20) of Bishop's tries to block the movement

of Ella "Milty" Milton (13) with the ball.

LJ's Frida Soto Lopez (9, left) goes

stick-to-stick against Lola Conway (1)

of Bishop's.

Bishop's junior Lola Conway (far right), the top

scorer in California last year, hits in the

Knights' offense in opening moments

of the game.

LJ FB: Game review 10/30

Viking running back Joseph Crudo

(carrying the ball) batters his way

through a porous UC defense to score

his first TD with 6:20 left in the

first quarter. LJ led, 7-0.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

It was a scary night the evening before Halloween, as La Jolla's struggling football team, carrying a 3-6 record, lost on a last-second play to local rival UCHS, 49-42, Fri., Oct. 30, at home. Both teams ended up the Eastern League regular schedule with identical 2-3 records as a result.

The Cents broke a 42-42 tie on a long passing touchdown, after a seesaw string of the two teams trading scoring in the second half, to win by a TD.

The Vikings, however, on their own Senior Night including football players, cheerleaders, and two members of the band--the last which turned in an outstanding performance in the finale--prevailed in the first half, 21-13. They did it on the shoulders of running backs Kali Deberry and senior Joseph Crudo, who also played on defense and made key plays there.

Crudo, in particular, was a man on a mission in his last regular-season high school football game. He repeatedly sacrificed his body and went against all odds propelling his compact 5'6", 165-pound frame to gain additional yardage.

Deberry scored La Jolla's third touchdown with 1:36 left in the first half for the eight-point lead, then uncharacteristically struck a Heisman pose in the end zone. He is usually a friendly, smiling, but reserved individual.

Moxy Applebaum (22, far right) returns

a punt to the LJ 19-yard line after

UCHS tied the game 7-7 in the

first quarter.

His backfield mate, Joseph, battered his way to touchdown number two a quarter before that, with 1:34 remaining, from 14 yards out. The Vikings led at that point, 14-6.

Crudo previously carried the ball in for a TD to open scoring in the first quarter, at the 6:20 point, at just after 7:05 p.m. (The game started four minutes early.)

Lineman Zach "Snacks" Gergurich, playing both ways, appeared at the informal Halloween baseball scrimmage the following morning. "I'm pretty banged up," he said, displaying scratches under his right arm he attributed to an opposing player's helmet. Gergurich--whom baseball teammates claimed at the scrimmage, "He's our 'Snacks'"--is a Division 1 commit to play football at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.