2014 La Jolla Vikings girls basketball team
2nd in CIF Division III
(Photo by Ed Piper)
La Jolla's fabulous girls basketball team built a 10-point lead with minutes left in the third quarter, but couldn't hold on, dropping a well-played 51-48 decision to Central Union of Imperial Valley in the CIF Division III Finals March 8.
Senior Sophie Sowers led with 20 points, many of her points coming on attacks down the middle of the lane against defenders. She added five rebounds and two assists. She showed a fierceness unmatched before, sometimes persisting in her offensive drives against one or more closing defenders trying to clog the middle. She finishes her four-year varsity career with over 1,000 points--only the third Viking female to reach that standard--and over 200 three-pointers. She started all four years at La Jolla High.
Coach Dave Westhem said, "This was our plan" to make it to the title game. He scheduled games in the tough La Jolla Country Day Sweet Sixteen Invitational, a tournament that La Jolla had never played in before, and against Bishop's, the number one team in the county. The purpose was to give the girls a challenge, and build their skill level and expectations of where they could reach.
Sierra Westhem, like Sowers playing her final high school game, had eight points, three rebounds, and two assists. The two seniors' leadership, especially at halftime of the quarterfinal game at Fallbrook Feb. 28 in which La Jolla narrowly trailed, sparkled as the Vikings pushed further into the playoffs.
Sophomore Madeleine Gates avoided further foul trouble in the third quarter, after committing two personals in the first half, and again dominated the middle against the shorter Spartans. She pulled down 20 rebounds and blocked four shots to go with her 13 points. She also had two steals and two assists. She is the complete athletic package. She has a positive attitude, to boot.
Copyright 2014 Ed Piper
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