LJ b BB edged by Eastlake, 46-42

Sophomore Morgan Albers (22) defends

against Eastlake opponent in Dec. 26

contest. (Photo by Ed Piper)

 

 

La Jolla's well-distributed scoring among eight Vikings didn't provide enough power to offset turnovers and stretches of lower production, as Eastlake took a tight contest, 46-42, in the opening game of the 31st Annual Aztec Holiday Classic at Montgomery High School Dec. 26.

 

Freshman guard Reed Farley led Viking scorers with 12 points, including two three-pointers in the first quarter from behind the arc. Nic Skala added 8, as did fellow senior and captain Madigan Sepulveda-Sanders.

 

The red and black jumped out to a seven-point lead, 14-7, with a couple of minutes left in the first quarter. Several Vikings were subbed in early in the game, in addition to the starting five of Farley, Skala, Ladd Castellano, sophomore Morgan Albers, and Owen Porter.

 

Elijah Kerns had a basket as La Jolla beat the Eastlake press. Myles Polger provided some discipline and defense off the bench. Mark Rawdin, like Skala a member of the football team that played late into November, saw playing time.

 

But after leading 20-13 early in the second quarter, La Jolla squandered its lead and after a 25-2 run by the Titans into the third quarter saw itself down 35-25.

 

Said reserve guard Gaynor Blackmon: "It was a tough game. We probably need to play tougher in the middle (of the game), when we dipped down. Elijah played really well. Reed started out hot. It's just adjustments (we need to make).

 

 

Vikings guard Reed Farley battles Eastlake pressure in second
quarter. (Photo by Ed Piper)







 

 

Copyright 2013 Ed Piper





LJ g BB: Vikings club Cavers

5-11 senior forward Sierra Westhem

battles Caver Tatyana Hamlett near the

basket in third quarter action Dec. 5.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

 

 

The Vikings girls basketball team trounced San Diego 47-22 in their second game of the Sweet 16 Invitational at La Jolla Country Day School Dec. 5. Senior Sierra Westhem hit five of six three-point attempts on her way to scoring 17 points, while sophomore Madeleine Gates dominated the boards with 17 rebounds.

 

Gates also had five blocks against the Cavers, who only trailed La Jolla at the end of the first quarter 8-4 and 21-14 at halftime. La Jolla then proceeded to suffocate their opponent, building a 39-19 edge by the end of three quarters.

 

Three-point specialist Sophia Sowers recorded a fine stat line: 14 points, including four baskets from outside the arc, 4 rebounds, and one assist. Sowers and Westhem serve as team captains.

 

Gates, the 6-2 center, scored on 5 of 8 two-point field goals, with one assist and three steals.

 

The Vikings continue play in the Sweet 16 Invitational at LJCDS Dec. 6 and 7.

 

Remarked Gates with a smile after the victory: "It's nice not being the youngest on the team anymore." Kate Miller and Sakura Roberson are incoming freshmen on the 2013-14 squad coached by Dave Westhem.

 

 

Copyright 2013 Ed Piper





LJ BB: Sepulveda leads victory with 12 points

Myles Polger pulls up for a jump shot in closing minutes versus Monte Vista Dec. 4. The 6-foot senior guard had 7 assists in limited minutes of playing time. (Photo by Ed Piper)


Zach Duffy hit a nice jump shot, among other contributions, in an extended role off the bench as La Jolla's boys basketball team defeated Monte Vista handily, 55-34, Dec. 4.

"I've been shooting well lately," said the 6-1 junior guard said, "I mean, so why not shoot it, right?"

More importantly, Duffy, playing in his first year on the varsity, got minutes while the game still counted.

The Vikings stayed in their set offense, coach Paul Baranowski's priority, showing discipline and steadily pulling away from the Monarchs as the game progressed: 23-16 at halftime, 38-26 after the third quarter, 55-29 late in the fourth quarter.

Freshman guard Reed Farley had 16 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals in an impressive stat line, and not even playing a full game with many substitutes filling in.

Monte Vista has talented athletes, but they showed inexperience on the basketball court and turned the ball over frequently.

Said senior Madigan Sepulveda-Sanders: "We really started to figure out what they were doing on defense. And their big guys on offense--one of them would only go right, the other one would only go left. So we really started to count on that."

The Vikings (2-1) next host Madison Fri., Dec. 6. Three team members coming over from football who haven't been able to play so far--Nic Skala, Mark Rawdin, and Grant Miller--will take part in their first practice Thurs., Dec. 5, and then be available to play from here on.

STATS: Points - Reed Farley 16, Sepulveda-Sanders 12, Sam Schneider 6. Assists - Polger 7, Ladd Castellano 4. Rebounds - Sepulveda-Sanders 6, Farley 4, Polger 3. Steals - Sepulveda-Sanders 3, Farley 3, Castellano 3, Polger 2, Duffy 2. Turnovers - Sepulveda-Sanders 2.

Sophomore Morgan Albers hits the floor to battle for the

ball with Monarchs' Isaiyah Kelly (21) in the fourth quarter

Dec. 4. (Photo by Ed Piper)



Copyright 2013 Ed Piper

LJ BB 73, Southwest 26

Max Scott drives toward hoop in fourth

quarter in Vikings' 73-26 win over

visiting Southwest Dec. 3.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

 

 

 

La Jolla's boys basketball team, following a lopsided loss to Kearny in their season opener the night before, played everyone and saw everyone score as the Vikings dismantled lowly Southwest 73-26 Dec. 3. Junior Owen Porter led scorers with 11 points.

 

The outmatched Raiders fielded only six players on their roster and quickly fell behind 17-3 in the first quarter on a three-pointer by Viking Sam Schneider. Senior Myles Polger hit a jump shot from the left side shortly after the timeout, followed by Michael Teller's 13-foot bucket to go up 21-7.

 

Coach Paul Baranowski subbed in his entire second platoon with 3:00 left in the quarter. Early in the second quarter, the remaining platoon of players were inserted as the hosts rolled to a 39-16 halftime lead.

 

The home crowd was small to begin the game, on a wet night outside and no rivalry opponent on the premises. More students filtered in toward the second half to fill out the student body cheering section.

 

"It was good seeing everyone out there," said reserve guard Gaynor Blackmon with a grin. "I think everyone scored, which is really fun for the whole team. Owen (Porter, another reserve) scored, I scored... I missed a few open layups."

 

La Jolla continues its pool play in the GameOnSports Challenge tournament tonight, Wed., Dec. 4, traveling to face Monte Vista in Spring Valley.

 

 

Copyright 2013 Ed Piper





LJ BB player outlook

Vikings' Mark Rawdin (23) defends near basket in summer league action July 14.

Rawdin is one of the taller La Jolla players at 6-4. (Photo by Ed Piper)

 

 

"I think that we could have a breakout season if we really come together as a team," commented guard Ladd Castellano on the eve of La Jolla's basketball season opener Dec. 2 at Kearny.

 

"I think my role on the team is to score and to be an energy type player. I'm really looking forward to the hard fought games versus teams like Cathedral, St. Augustine, and Mission Bay."

 

Castellano, a 17-year-old junior who prefers science and math on the academic side, goes on: "I would say we are trying to improve on our defense and our offensive efficiency. We look strong in our three-point shooting and our communication."

 

 

Copyright 2013 Ed Piper

Coach Baranowski: mission statement

Reed Farley (near lower left, in black jersey) reaches toward

passer while Grant Miller defends from behind in win over

Marysville-Pilchuck, WA, July 14. Also defending are

(from rear left) Ladd Castellano (top left), Owen Porter

(behind Miller), and Michael Teller. (Photo by Ed Piper)

La Jolla High boys basketball coach Paul Baranowski says the following regarding his mission statement: "My personal mission as a coach is to teach life skills, utilizing competitive interscholastic basketball as the primary instructional tool. I can think of no better environment which combines decision-making, group process, respect, accountability, and integrity."

Paul Baranowski, La Jolla High boys

basketball coach (Photo by Ed Piper)

Copyright 2013 Ed Piper

Viking boys BB: Effort, Attitude, Execution

Forward Madigan Sepulveda-Sanders (upper right)

interacts with fellow senior Nic Skala (5) in the offense

in UCSD Team Camp win over Marysville-Pilchuck,

Washington, July 14. (Photo by Ed Piper)

Coach Paul Baranowski says his La Jolla basketball team's mantra this season is "Effort, Attitude, Execution."

Regarding his expectations for the 2013-14 edition of Viking basketball, with the opener tomorrow, Dec. 2, the coach says: "At this point, I am cautiously optimistic regarding our outlook for the upcoming season.

"I see tremendous potential in this group. [See previous blog entry for lineup and roster.] The key will be their willingness to buy into the process. When the process becomes the focus, the desired product is a more likely outcome."

The roster at this writing includes 16 players: six seniors, eight juniors, one sophomore, and one freshman. All six seniors, including Madigan Sepulveda-Sanders, Sam Schneider, Elijah Kearns, Myles Polger, Michael Teller, and Nic Skala, return from last year. All 10 underclassmen are new to the varsity roster.

The Vikings' style, as demonstrated through last spring's and summer's games, continues to be their trademark team defense and team-oriented offense. No team member is taller than 6-5 or 6-4 (Madigan, Kearns, and Rawdin).


Copyright 2013 Ed Piper

Viking boys basketball outlook 2013-2014

La Jolla's Ladd Castellano pushes toward the middle in a

win over Marysville-Pilchuck, Washington, in the UCSD

Team Camp July 14. Castellano, a 6-2 junior guard, is

expected to make a major contribution this season

following a productive summer. (Photo by Ed Piper)

"I played on a club team. That helped me a lot," revealed Ladd Castellano, a junior at La Jolla, regarding the leaps and bounds of progress he showed in his basketball game during the past spring and summer through four team camps and tournaments. Castellano's work with his club team came in addition to La Jolla High tutelage and work.

Even between his play in the Madison spring league last April and May, and the skill level, confidence, and effectiveness he demonstrated in games in the San Diego State camp and Grossmont tournament in June, and the UCSD Team Camp in July, a difference was visible. Ladd blossomed and suddenly became a major leader on the La Jolla varsity squad.

The Vikings open 2013-14 play in a tournament game Monday, Dec. 3, at Kearny High, starting at 5 p.m. The tournament is the GameOnSports Challenge that Coach Paul Baranowski has entered his team in.

Baranowski announced his probable starters for the opener at Kearny: Castellano, Sam Schneider, Reed Farley, Madigan Sepulveda-Sanders, and Morgan Albers.

Zach Duffy and Myles Polger are likely to be the first ones in after the start.

Nic Skala, a "probable starter" in coach Paul Baranowski's projection as the season progresses, is just coming off a spectacular fall football season that ended Friday night with the Viking football team's loss to Monte Vista in the CIF Division IV semifinals.

Nic, as well as Mark Rawdin, probably won't play this first week of the season due to their changeover from football. Skala, returning to the varsity basketball squad from last year, won All-Western League First Team honors in football as a wide receiver. He used plenty of his leaping ability in a high-wire act snagging mid-air passes from quarterback Collin Rugg in the Vikings' high-powered offense.

Farley is a freshman, having just enrolled in high school this fall. He made an immediate impact when he joined the basketball team in summer league games. His older sisters, Ryan and Clare, have been major cogs in the La Jolla girls volleyball program for the past several years.

Morgan Albers, a sophomore, is a surprise since he didn't even play with the varsity during the summer portion of the schedule. He played with the junior varsity. He is listed as 6-2 on the Vikings' MaxPreps roster (maxpreps.com).

It's good to see Duffy back. He sustained a leg injury midway through the summer and had to sit out several games. But he attended each game and stayed in the team dynamics despite the injury.

Coach Baranowski is returning for his second season as Vikings head coach. He completed a seamless transition last year from his predecessor, Kamal Assaf, who stepped down as coach after a decade at the helm due to family needs, including being a papa. Baranowski had been his assistant for a couple of seasons, including while his son Jake played for the varsity. Jake Baranowski is now LJHS freshman boys basketball coach. Assaf continues as a full-time teacher at The Bishop's School in La Jolla.

Also "likely to contribute" this season, according to Baranowski, in addition to Rawdin, are guard Owen Porter and forward Elijah Kearns.

Rounding out the roster are Michael Teller, Gaynor Blackmon, Daniel Hemming, Max Scott, and Grant Miller.


Copyright 2013 Ed Piper

Quotes: La Jolla FB 24, Monte Vista 41, CIF Semifinals

La Jolla's Carlton O'Neal (behind) gets off a punt past Monte Vista defender Jonathon Archibald (41) on Vikings' first possession, down 7-0 in the first quarter in the CIF semifinals Nov. 29. (Photo by Ed Piper)


Commented Monte Vista Jonathan Archibold, senior defensive end, number 41:
"La Jolla was pretty good in the second half. They came out slow in the beginning. But they kind of stooped us in the third quarter. We had to finish them off."

What was the difference in the game? Both teams are pretty talented. "Yes, they are. The difference was, I guess we wanted it more because it's been such a while, and we wanted to make the history (of winning a CIF playoff game for the first time since 2004)."


Copyright 2013 Ed Piper