LJ BB 38, UC 51 - Western League opener

Vikings' Morgan Albers (32) goes up high

to try to block pass by UC's Quinn Skillin

(left) in both team's Western League

opener. (Photo by Ed Piper)

 

 

La Jolla was "game", but lacked firepower and quickness against University City to drop their Western League opener, 51-38, on UC's home court Jan. 7.

 

The Vikings were missing Nic Skala, who normally provides some of that quickness, as well as Sam Schneider and Myles Poulger, and it showed. They were out-quicked by the Centurions, going down 47-32 midway through the fourth quarter, before rallying somewhat.

 

There was just too much pressure, at too high a speed. Guard Ladd Castellano, an all-tournament pick for the Vikings in December, had 16 points. But he and Reed Farley were the only two viable options to make shots for themselves. La Jolla did create baskets out of their offense, though.

 

"We're going to have to play a lot better than we did [in a previous tournament game versus UC]. This is a really good team," said LJHS coach Paul Baranowski before the game. The previous margin of loss to UC had been six points. But Baranowski said the game wasn't that close in reality.

 

Said forward Sam Schneider, out for the game due to a minor injury to his back in practice the day before: "We need to rebound a lot better [than in our previous game against UC]. That's something we didn't do well."

 

Both the coach's and Schneider's prognostications turned out to be correct: La Jolla didn't play a lot better. UC out-rebounded the visitors noticeably. The result: a loss.

 

Next up is a doubleheader at Lincoln Fri., Jan. 10: Boys varsity at 7:30 p.m., girls varsity at 6 p.m.