LJ BB: Mock Sports Center

Zach Duffy (right) applies full-court

pressure with teammate Tony Coan

against Santana in scrimmage

Nov. 28. (Photo by Ed Piper)

Holding Reed Farley's green Gatorade-labeled water bottle as a microphone, Zach Duffy set about interviewing him in a post-scrimmage mock sports interview show, aided and abetted by yours truly as I filmed the spoof outside the Grossmont High gym. Another teammate, Mark Rawdin, played a supporting role.

"So, Reed, tell us about the dunk that you missed against Santana...," said Duffy, not one to miss the mirth and humor of his senior year. He enjoyed ribbing his teammate, and Farley seemed game.

"We're going to do (the pseudo sports wrap-up) after every win," says Zach, reflecting back on a Thanksgiving weekend of scrimmages and, finally, real basketball with the season opener Nov. 29. In the latter, the 6-foot guard came off the bench to play 16 minutes and contribute seven points, a steal, and a rebound in the 65-54 Viking win in Calexico against Vincent Memorial Catholic High School.

"We locked them (the Scots) up on defense pretty well. We didn't let many fastbreak points," said the 17-year-old, looking forward to his senior season unfolding.

In Coach Paul Baranowski's system, Zach's role is "coming off the bench, providing that spark that we need to get back in the game," the student athlete says, "continuing to play with intensity.

"That's what I kind of did yesterday (vs. Vincent). We were going down in the first quarter. Owen (Porter) and I came in" and helped La Jolla get on track.

Duffy, a shooting guard, has a nice shot. But he says it has been off lately. "I've been better at flashing (breaking toward the basket from the wing to take a pass), like floaters, layups, mid-range shots is my game now. "I'll leave the three's to Tony (Coan) and Ladd (Castellano)."

Away from the basketball court, Duffy is interested in science--"enviro", as in environmental science. Also, kinesiology holds an interest. He could see being a personal trainer, kind of in the mold of LJHS trainer Ben Howe, or a physical therapist.

His younger brother, Jacob, turns 14 on Dec. 6 and promises to be a "really good" basketball player, in his big brother's estimation. Jacob is presently an 8th-grader at Muirlands Middle School. Zach's other brother is Cole, 10 years old.

"My dad makes this poppyseed chicken. It's very good," allows Duffy on the culinary side. Spaghetti is a personal favorite. In fact, Italian food in general satisfies the taste buds. Dad, mom, and grandma come to many or most of Zach's games.

Ear candy consists of ska music, including Sublime and Slightly Stupid, and mellow beach music, like Jack Johnson, as well as rap by Kendrick Lamar.

What is the draw of basketball and sports? "I'm very competitive. It's that competition that keeps me going. I like running and getting out there and being part of something bigger than myself. A team win gets me going," says Duffy.

In seeing others get injured and their futures put in jeopardy, Zach is bearing in mind the following saying: "Play every game like it's your last."

"I kind of like to live by that one" due to a friend on the football team being injured recently, says the senior.

He was impressed with teammate Eddie Parker's 10 points and rebounding in the season opener.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ BB 65, Vincent Memorial 54 - Season opener

Guard Reed Farley goes up for

a slam attempt in preseason

scrimmage Nov. 29.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

There are some interesting items in the La Jolla High boys basketball statistics from their opener at Vincent Memorial Catholic Nov. 29. Tony Coan played 19 minutes, yet didn't take a shot or have a rebound or assist. He's a three-point specialist.

Reed Farley had the ball a lot, obviously. He took 17 shots, making 3 of 5 three-pointers, had 7 assists, 2 blocks, and 9 rebounds, scoring 26 points. That's a lot of time touching the ball for the now-6'4" guard, who sets up Coach Paul Baranowski's offense.

To be noted in sophomore Farley's stats is the absence of Ladd Castellano, who was away for the Thanksgiving weekend. Castellano, also a guard, will be sharing the ball when he's on the hardwood.

Baranowski said Friday, Nov. 29, in anticipation of the opener the following day, that he looked forward to the Vincent Memorial game because it would give him a baseline or reading on where his team was. When all you do is practice and scrimmage, you can't really tell how your team is doing.

In the five-way scrimmage Nov. 29 against four opponents, Monte Vista, Oceanside, Grossmont, and Santana, he tried out a lot of players who wouldn't seem to be starters--though they might be in the rotation of players who will play regularly. Alex Pitrofsky played down low a lot in the first two scrimmages. Coan started, as did forward Morgan Albers and guard Eddie Parker.

Farley started, but that would seem to be a given, since somebody needed to bring the ball down court and set up the offense. Castellano wasn't available, so Farley started the first scrimmage and played many minutes.

Forward Owen Porter, a returning starter, didn't start in the early scrimmages. Guard Gaynor Blackmon, who was a starter in the spring and summer leagues, didn't start. Grant Miller (concussion) and Mark Rawdin (knee) were inactive.

So, in the opener, Farley played all 32 minutes--to handle the ball, undoubtedly. Albers played 28 minutes, Parker 24, Porter 22, Coan 19, guard Zach Duffy 16, Pitrofsky 9, Blackmon 6, guard Daniel Hemming 2. Big man Johannes Osypka did not play. So we have a primarily guard-driven system, with quickness and team defense the priorities.

Baranowski spoke highly of Parker, a newcomer, during the spring and summer leagues. He is quick, handles the ball well, and can drive to the basketball. He looks comfortable and capable on the court. He has played a lot.

Porter had 6 rebounds. That's solid. Farley had 9, and though he's a guard, he's 6'4", jumps well, and is active all over the court. His 2 blocks confirm that.

I think it's significant that Duffy, a shooting guard, played as many minutes as he did. He's not a starter, but his role will be defined by how effective he is, it seems. Parker played many minutes. But both Duffy and Parker are guards, and their minutes will be affected by the return of Ladd Castellano.

Baranowski says his team will be bigger this year. The guards are taller. But also, there are three big men of 6'4" height or taller: Pitrofsky, Rawdin, and Osypka. None was a factor in the Vincent game. Two didn't play, one due to injury. The other, Pitrofsky, a newcomer to varsity who is a junior, is young and raw. As I commented on the Nov. 29 scrimmage, he looked good against Santana in the early scrimmage. His 9 minutes against Vincent could have to do with Vincent Memorial's speed, matchups, or some other factor. We'll have to see about his role.

Things will begin to be sorted out pretty quickly, because the Vikings play six games over a period of 15 days to begin the campaign. LJHS plays 10 games during the month of December.

Looking ahead to Southwest Mon., Dec. 1, at home, it depends on whether the Raiders bring the team that began the season last year, or the one that finished last season. Most of the team was dropped midway through the season, so La Jolla played a pitiful group that should have been on the JV or freshman team--non-competitive. However, in years past, Southwest was a league champion and competitive playoff team. We'll have to wait and see if the program has recuperated.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ g BB: "I tell a lot of jokes"

Guard Jenna Harmeyer shows her

development as a player by using her

left hand to drive toward the basket

in a win over Mission Bay Feb. 7.

Jenna is including this photo on her

senior page in the yearbook.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

Jenna Harmeyer has gotten feedback from people who only see her on the basketball court or the hockey field that she seems awfully serious. "They think I'm angry," she says.

But the La Jolla High athlete is putting the word out that she isn't angry, and that she is a friendly person. "Off the court I smile, I talk, I tell a lot of jokes," she says to clear the air.

This conception of her is partly tied to Jenna's enjoyment and involvement in sports. She gets it, she loves to play, and she wants her team and herself to perform well. So in the heat of competition, she is focused on job one. That's reflected in her facial expression.

But another element entered the picture this past fall. On the field hockey team at the start of the season, Coach Paula Conway named Harmeyer the sole team captain, a new role for her among her teammates. She had to undergo all the changes that anyone being promoted into leadership from among the ranks has to go through.

It is a transition that can be fraught with difficulties. But Jenna seemed to have a fast learning curve--just like the speed she is known for on the field at her positions at left midfield and left inner, on the court as point guard, and on the track as a sprinter in the 100 and 200 meters.

"I felt that the team appreciated me. I tried to focus on keeping the team happy," the 17-year-old senior says, looking back. "Later on in the season, Kelly Collins and Gabby Person also became captains," which spread the responsibility out a little more.

Jenna enjoyed Thanksgiving break by spending time with her older sister Katie, who is majoring in biology at UCLA. The two were teammates in all three sports at La Jolla two years ago. Jenna kind of exploded onto the scene as a new student athlete at the high school, and that can be difficult for an older sibling who has to share the spotlight with the new upstart.

The two weathered that transition and worked things out to where Jenna would like to attend UCLA as well, studying the same major. Their relationship is fine.

"I've always been interested in anatomy," says the younger sibling, who will play at #1, or point guard, in basketball coach Johnnie Horne's alignment. "I've always seen myself as a surgeon or a biological researcher."

A friend on the Viking basketball team, which is undergoing many roster changes, is Sarah Tajran, also a senior. Tajran will play at shooting guard opposite Harmeyer.

Basketball is Jenna's favorite sport. "Every practice, I come home really happy and in a good mood," she says, "no matter how much we had to run. I really think that teams are where you find your closest friends. All the girls always try to help each other out, and that's the group you want to fit into. That's why in college I want to stay in sports, even club sports."

Gastronomically, peanut butter chocolate ice cream gets the nod for dessert, alongside Rigoberto's burritos with carne asada fries for the entrée.

Supported by her sister and her parents, Marilynne and Jeff, she bears the following thought in mind: "As long as you keep trying, you can never do anything wrong."

That indicates a willingness to take risks, and freedom from the scars that can come from risking and failing. "If you're playing and you make some mistakes," Harmeyer elaborates, "but you're always putting in effort, no one can get mad at you because you're trying."

La Jolla High's girls basketball team opens its season at home Saturday evening, Nov. 29, against Imperial High at 7:30 p.m.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ BB: Gone fishin'

Vikings forward Owen Porter (R)

passes on the baseline in scrimmage

against Santana. (Photo by Ed Piper)

Owen Porter has fond memories of fishing at a pond near his uncle's house in Michigan, and a fishing trip last summer to the Sierras. "We caught a lot of trout," the 6-foot La Jolla High senior remembers of the more recent jaunt.

Porter, who has fit himself well into Coach Paul Baranowski's basketball system ever since he began his junior year, gives a bit of a country flavor to La Jolla High basketball. Owen tends to be fairly quiet, he often smiles when interacting with others, and he presents kind of a "down home" persona that causes others to describe him as "nice" and he himself to say he's "easy-going".

The 17-year-old, who recently was accepted by Portland State University, then surprises when he says that his college studies could center around business management. He isn't fast-talking, he isn't flashy, and he doesn't fit the stereotype of either the high-powered personality some in sales exhibit or the polished, MBA-in-the-making that people outside La Jolla might hold of young people at the coastal school.

Given feedback to this effect, the hard-working role player on the Vikings varsity replies, "If I entered business, it would be something behind the doors, working quietly."

The lunch-pail image applies for Porter. He was inserted into the line-up and started most games his first season on the varsity because he follows Baranowski's mantra: Know your role and fulfill it. Owen, though he's not the one soaring out of the gym with his jumping ability a la some of the Lincoln stars of the recent past, stays within the offense. And on defense, he acknowledges, "I'm a defensive guy. When the team needs a stop, I try to do that."

As a senior, with a year of experience, confidence, and credibility as a starter, the Portland Trailblazer enthusiast realizes he has a greater leadership role than last year and that he needs to "step up" on offense, in addition to his defensive contributions.

"I'm really excited to have the season start," he said on the eve of the opener at Vincent Memorial in Calexico. "It was good to play at Grossmont," in which the Vikings took part in a round-robin scrimmage Nov. 28 against four opponents: Santana, Grossmont, Monte Vista, and Oceanside. He did a lot of sitting in the early segments, as Baranowski seemed to want to take a look at some other lesser-known quantities.

Another theme Baranowski, in his third year as head coach at La Jolla, drills into his troops is playing for each other. Owen seems to fill that bill, in both his on-court performance and his demeanor off-court.

A transformation that takes place when he steps onto the hardwood has been noticed by his coach. "Coach B asks me (jokingly), 'Why are you so mad on the court all the time?' We're just having fun with each other." But the relatively short forward does play with intensity and energy, with a stern face.

Early in his junior year, observers of La Jolla games might have wondered why this relatively non-descript, non-showy athlete was worthy of starting for the varsity. But his value to the team goes beyond his individual statistics. As college and pro scouting reports would word his unselfish nature, he's a contributor in the locker room.

Owen has an older sister, 27, and older brother, 23. His father Kevin barbecues his favorite hamburgers--"I eat a lot of hamburgers," Porter says--using a "secret seasoning" he buys at the store, but which Owen won't reveal. OP carries a 3.5 GPA in the classroom.

In further explanation of his interest in business management, Porter comments, "I've always had a leadership quality when it comes to making decisions in situations where the stakes are high." He isn't boasting. He observes that he has an ability to stay calm when the fur flies. "I don't freak out about a lot of stuff," he says drolly. This comes in handy on the basketball court, when things tighten up.

He adds, "I'm really bad with math in the classroom, but when it comes to money, I'm capable."

The Portland State-bound senior, breaking another stereotype, favors rap and hip hop music among his listening preferences. Currently, he's into Logic, a single artist from Maryland. "I like the rhythm of his songs. He has a good flow," says the La Jollan. But unlike some of his peers, he isn't one to wear headphones before a game to prepare mentally. He prefers to do that without music.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ BB: Duffy on point

Zach Duffy goes up

under duress in

scrimmage at

Grossmont.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

Senior guard Zach Duffy, who figures to fill a role coming off the bench in La Jolla coach Paul Baranowski's rotation, sports a thick though trimmed beard, is very friendly and outgoing with this reporter, and looks forward to the Vikings' basketball season, which is upon us in less than 24 hours, at this writing.

"We are just an overall hard-working team," said Duffy by Facebook. "We are all fully invested in this system that we have going and we are all hungry for a playoff push.

"We are working hard on our conditioning and our defensive approach, so in crunch time we are the team that doesn't make mistakes because of fatigue."

Regarding the big men, the 5'10" shooting guard says, "A major improvement that I personally have noticed are in our posts. Alex (Pitrofsky) has really become a dominant scorer, and so has Mark (Rawdin) and Joho (Johannes Osypka). Unfortunately, Mark is sidelined with a knee injury, so once he's back and healthy, we are going to be a tough team to stop in the post."

Which answers the question of why the 6'5" Rawdin, though he sat with the team at the Grossmont scrimmage Nov. 28, didn't seem available to play.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ BB: Castellano's views

Guard Ladd Castellano was unable to participate in La Jolla's basketball scrimmage with Oceanside and Monte Vista, among other teams, at Grossmont High the day after Thanksgiving. However, the senior was willing to comment on his team before the season via Facebook.

"I definitely think Tony Coan has been the surprise so far this year," said Castellano, a returning starter, of his up-and-coming fellow guard. "I knew he was going to be a good shooter, but he has literally been hitting every three he has shot." Coan hit at least one outside shot from the top of the key in the initial two-quarter segment of the four-part scrimmage against Santana on Black Friday, bearing out Castellano's comments.

"We seem pretty well prepared," said Ladd. "It's weird coming to my final year of Viking basketball. I'm really excited for this season and I have high expectations for our team.

"The key to a successful team is how much buy-in you have for the system that your coach has laid out for each player." The guard's views reflect Coach Paul Baranowski's emphasis on each player knowing his role, and filling that role within the greater system.

Said Castellano, who would be expected to travel to Calexico Nov. 29 with his teammates for the season opener against Vincent Memorial Catholic High School, "I think the seniors have really got to step up and play a huge role. We have a lot of returning varsity players that are seniors this year. They saw what we did wrong last year and know what we need to do to win. I'm really going to miss this team so I want to end my career at La Jolla with a bang!"

The players are traveling to Calexico by carpool, according to Castellano's teammate, Owen Porter.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ g BB: Harmeyer's comments

Jenna Harmeyer, captain on the La Jolla High field hockey team this past season, will also fill a major role as a leader on the girls basketball team as a junior.

"We are actually looking at some pretty big changes this year," said Harmeyer via Facebook, acknowledging that center Madeleine Gates will not be continuing in basketball after stellar freshman and sophomore years. She also stated that veteran guard Amanda Polcyn, also a  junior, will not be playing basketball for the Vikings this year, which is news to this reporter.

Earlier in the week, guard Helen Lee said she will be playing soccer rather than basketball during the winter.

Said Harmeyer, "I will be the only starter from last year who is returning, so it's going to be a hard year, but I think we can pull through."

Regarding new head coach Johnnie Horne, she commented, "Coach Horne has a lot of great ideas and I know he will be able to get us all working together well."

Harmeyer, who also is a sprinter in track, keeps things positive and has been a good spokesperson for her teams in the past. "This will only be our second week of practicing all together as a team, so I'm optimistic that we will have a good season," commented the junior.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ BB: Season Preview

Morgan Albers lays the

ball up in preseason

scrimmage at

Grossmont.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

La Jolla boys basketball coach Paul Baranowski says he sees his players being more "conceptual" during the 2014-2015 season. By this, he means, "They know the program more, and they'll be able to react" rather than have to think before acting.

With this being the former LJHS assistant coach's third season at the helm, Baranowski says Ladd Castellano, Reed Farley, and company are more familiar with his system, and it should be evident in their execution.

Baranowski spoke on the eve of the team's season opener, a GameOnSports Challenge tournament game at Vincent Memorial Catholic School in Calexico, Saturday, Nov. 29. The game was changed from an originally scheduled Dec. 10 date. "We weren't going to drive there two hours on a weekday," said the coach. He called the Vincent Memorial coach to switch dates. The two coaches are going to make the trip worth La Jolla's while, with the freshman team, as well as the junior varsity, playing before the 1 p.m. varsity contest.

"We should be better defensively this year," said Baranowski as far as what loyal Viking fans can look forward to. "I think I'd like us to be deeper. I think we can go deeper than previous seasons." He meant that possibly 10 of the 13 team members could be in the rotation.

He also said that the team is "bigger", in today's parlance, "longer"--translated taller. The guards will be taller. Farley, now a sophomore, is close to 6'4", having grown from his debut year. Castellano goes 6'2" or so. Gaynor Blackmon goes against that trend, coming in at 5'6" or possibly less.

With Castellano absent from a five-way scrimmage at Grossmont High School the day after Thanksgiving, the roster shaped up as Alex Pitrofsky, Johannes Osypka, and Mark Rawdin the big men; Farley, Zach Duffy, Tony Coan, Daniel Hemming, Blackmon, and Castellano the guards; swing men/forwards Owen Porter, Eddie Parker, Grant Miller (inactive temporarily with a concussion from football), and Morgan Albers.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ BB: Scrimmage

Daniel Hemming works the offense as Vikings

scrimmage against Santana Nov. 28.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

The focus in the two gyms at Grossmont High was all basketball, while out in the greater world Black Friday madness reigned.

La Jolla's boys team scrimmaged four opponents Friday, Nov. 28, on a rotating set-up of two 8-minute quarters with a stopped clock, and with referees, which Viking coach Paul Baranowski was pleased about. This might be a rare occasion in some quarters on which a coach would welcome the presence of "zebras" with whistles.

Of note in the earliest scrimmage was 6'6" Alex Pitrofsky's activity near the basket. In his movement, confidence, and effectiveness he looked like a totally different player from the Alex back in Spring and Summer leagues, who looked young, green, and tentative.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ FB: News and banquet

Collin Rugg completed his senior season with 3,631 passing yards and 46 touchdowns passing. The yardage is a La Jolla High single-season record, which in the last few games he had already set and was just adding to his own record to close out the season.

The touchdown total is a CIF San Diego Section record, which he set in the first-round playoff game against Santa Fe Christian (at 45), then he added one to his total in the quarterfinals game against Christian High.

The Viking team banquet is Saturday, Dec. 6, at La Jolla Presbyterian Church.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

Thanksgiving

I'm thankful for all of you who make this writing and taking photos enjoyable. I will spend time this afternoon at Thanksgiving dinner with my granddaughter Alexis, who started all this in Fall 2004 by trying out and making the Viking varsity cheer squad as a freshman. At games, she would complain that I was embarrassing her by taking photos of her in front of her teammates. But then after games she would eagerly ask to see the photos! I learned this game early on, and that fueled my taking more photos.

At the time, I was using a manual film camera. Then I bought a point-and-shoot, which was my first step into the digital age. Then in June 2005, I splurged and bought my first DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) camera, my wife taking a major gulp at the cost--which was far more than I had ever paid for a film/SLR camera (the latter long before I met her).

I remember I bought a small memory card for $89, I think, with the camera (a Canon Rebel XT) at Costco. The card only held 1 GB! That was a big deal 10 years ago. Now I use 32 GB cards.

I'm thankful to God for my health, our marriage, our family, our two little grandkids, Luke and Violet, who are (almost) 3 and 16 months. (Alexis is now 24.) I got to take photos of them on Grandpa and Grandma's outing with them yesterday morning at the playground at La Jolla Shores. So much fun.

Be grateful, and I look forward to seeing you and posting photos of the impending winter sports. Say hi anytime when you see the big, bald, bearded guy in shorts and shirt tails hanging out at La Jolla High sports events. I always enjoy that, even if I don't respond immediately. I might be thinking about the camera. I'll take more time this year to relate to all of you, enjoy the present, and support the La Jolla High student-athletes that this all centers around.

Keep in mind this is a sidelight for me, not my career job or occupation. I teach juvenile court high school students full-time during the week. So if I don't post photos immediately, or I don't cover your event, my apologies, but I do what I can and what I choose to cover. It's pretty much on my own nickel, which I willingly choose to do--including 200 miles round-trip for a football game in El Centro, etc. (though I do the La Jolla Village News stories, and occasionally La Jolla Light stories, for pay).


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ g BB: Preview

The La Jolla High girls basketball team faced Bishop's in a scrimmage Wednesday morning, Nov. 26. I wasn't able to attend, but presumably the Vikings put on the court Jenna Harmeyer, whose field hockey season is over; sisters Satori and Sakura Roberson figured to be there; backcourt player Amanda Polcyn is still in season in volleyball with her team's win Nov. 25 in the Regionals. Helen Lee informed me while scoring the volleyball playoff that she is switching to soccer, so she will not be available to be playmaking guard. Madeleine Gates is concentrating on volleyball alone.

I have not been able to connect with new head coach Johnnie Horne, but I hope to hear from him soon. The Vikings play their season opener Friday night, Nov. 28, according to maxpreps.com and ljhs.sandi.net.

LJ FB: Bishop's coach

Marlon Wells, coach of the Bishop's girls basketball team, a CIF power, said on the eve of his team's preseason scrimmage against La Jolla, "Good luck" to Madeleine Gates, the Vikings' center the past two seasons, when he was informed Gates will forgo basketball to concentrate on volleyball.

"She's a good volleyball player," Wells said. His team, led by sophomore Destiny Littleton, scrimmages La Jolla Wed., Nov. 26. The relationship between the two teams was forged by Wells and Dave Westhem, LJHS coach who stepped down after the season last winter. Wells had been unaware Gates was not going to play basketball this season. But he didn't sound totally surprised.

It was on the Bishop's campus Jan. 11 that the Lady Knights hosted La Jolla for the first time in memory. CIF Player of the Year Imani Littleton, who is now playing at St. John's University in New York, led Bishop's to a big non-league win that opened the eyes of the younger, less experienced Vikings. A featured match-up in the game was the fleet and high-flying Imani Littleton (no relation to Destiny), 6-foot-2, against the 6-2 Gates. While Imani was a senior, Madeleine was only a sophomore at the time. Imani was impressive, taking rebounds and dribbling the length of the court to score on leaping layups. But Gates held her own, having to clog the middle not only against Imani, but also Destiny and the other Lady Knights attacking the basket. Bishop's won by over 30 points.

Wells has developed a year-round AAU travel team that was invited to major national tournaments in the East last summer. At one point, he expressed an interest in having Gates play on his travel squad.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ g VB 3, St. Margaret's 0 - So Cal Regionals

Middle hitter-blocker Madeleine Gates levels the boom

with a rocket in the second game against the visiting

Tartans. (Photo by Ed Piper)

La Jolla dispatched St. Margaret's in one hour, 13 minutes to sweep a first-round CIF Southern California Regional girls volleyball match in three games Nov. 25 before a good-sized, appreciative crowd despite the Thanksgiving week vacation.

The Vikings, not having played since falling to Bishop's in the first round of the Open Division playoffs in CIF San Diego Section, started slowly, dropping to a 7-1 deficit before righting themselves and sweeping all three games.

Vikings Chloe Luyties (center) and Savannah Guy
(right) set the block against the Tartans in game 2.
(Photo by Ed Piper)

St. Margaret's (25-6), a private Episcopal school in San Juan Capistrano, drove down to San Diego in an hour in light weekday vacation traffic, but had a much longer trip home in view of the defeat that ended the Tartans' 2014 season. Several supporters accompanied Coach Susie Maga's squad from Capo.

La Jolla (26-11), in contrast, continues in the Southern California Regionals with their next match Saturday, Nov. 29, against an undetermined opponent.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ g BB: Reflection

Madeleine Gates (right) defends

against Bishop's Imani Littleton

Jan. 11 in the biggest test of her

basketball career. Lady Knights

coach Marlon Wells wanted

Maddy to play on his travel team.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

Once I posted Madeleine Gates' decision to forgo basketball and concentrate on volleyball, I had a flood of thoughts and feelings about the occasion. When you view young people through a camera lens from right at the baseline of the basketball court, you see expressions of exultation and grimaces, you hear side comments and mutterings under the breath, and you begin to feel you personally know the student-athletes.

From having taken, viewed, and processed tens of thousands of photos of La Jolla High athletes over the past 11 school years, I am always a little surprised when a student I recognize from my close-up viewing through my lens passes by me on campus as if they don't know me. Because, of course, they don't. They probably have seen me with my camera, and now notepad. But we may not have started up a relationship via a greeting, a conversation, a text, or a Facebook message. It's only appropriate that they keep on walking.

Madeleine Gates is a La Jolla High student who I feel I'm somewhat familiar with. Her parents and I have said hello, her mom is so helpful with game time changes or summer league locations--I'm going to miss that a lot in the coming season. I feel like I've watched the 6'2" girl who can run an entire basketball game and have plenty left at the end, grow up from being a "baby" as a freshman. She, apparently, had never played basketball formally before. Last March she was the major cog in the Vikings' girls basketball team's march into the CIF Finals. By then, she could dribble with her right hand to the basket, something she couldn't do in her freshman season. She now was adept at shooting free throws--after putting up some airballs as a 9th-grader. She had learned a lot more about not getting pushed around by more physical girls on opposing teams.

I remarked to Madeleine at one point last winter, after she collected 22 rebounds in a game: "Madeleine, that is really something. You got 22 rebounds, and you're a sophomore. I didn't have that many in a game as a senior when I was in high school."

I like to think I've helped Madeleine gain some experience with the media in her two basketball seasons. I interviewed her for my La Jolla Light and blog stories on more than one occasion. At first, she was pretty quiet, reticent to speak and, really, not knowing what to say as a freshman. But with repeated experience and the maturity that comes with growing, she grew more comfortable and wasn't caught off-guard when she was asked questions.

I teach in the public school system, and Madeleine is a pleasure to watch in sports and to interact with on the sidelines. She is one of those people who is just herself, not showy or attention-gathering. She is a credit to her mom and dad, Amy and Michael, and a solid representative of the La Jolla High School community. My parents brought us children up to value a public school education and its contribution toward our society, and Madeleine is one more reason that public school works.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ g BB: Gates to play volleyball only

According to Madeleine Gates' mother, the star center for the La Jolla High basketball team that went to the CIF Finals last Spring is going to concentrate on volleyball only and not play basketball for the Vikings this season.

Amy Randel said in an email, "It's official now, so I can share this with you. It was a difficult decision to make and is sad in many ways, but it's the healthiest decision for her...Madeleine has decided not to play basketball this year."

Gates is also a stellar volleyball player, whose La Jolla High team just completed their season. Her mother said that Madeleine is taking five A.P. classes, in addition to a calculus class through Mesa College. The 6'2" junior, whose kill percentage in volleyball has been at an elite level, has been playing club volleyball during the basketball season, putting a severe load on the young student-athlete. Something had to give, and it was basketball.

Madeleine's mother, Amy, was a scholastic volleyball player. Her father, Michael, who has assisted the Vikings girls basketball team under former head coach Dave Westhem the past two years, was a basketball player in school. So the two tall parents have always enjoyed a friendly rivalry over their daughter's participation in the two sports.

Ms. Randel said that college recruiting for volleyball is "going full swing" at this point in Madeleine's third year of high school, with college matriculation looming in 21 months or less and the decision to be made for which college and which college offer to accept, in the likely case that an athletic scholarship would be offered, in many fewer months than that.

Gates' mother mentioned "the potential for injury" in continuing such an intensive two-sport and academic schedule, "not to mention being completely run down from everything," as factors in the decision.

"She (Madeleine) just walked over to the high school a few minutes ago to turn in her basketball gear...[S]he thought I would be happy, but really it is quite sad," said Amy Randel Nov. 24.

"I'm really going to miss those rebounds, etc., but I think she'll be healthier and happier as a result(,) so I shouldn't be sad for those very good reasons. She has some very good college options already and that's exciting...", she continued in her email.

 "...[I]t made the most sense for her to concentrate on volleyball," said her mother. 

Madeleine had 22 rebounds in one basketball game last year. She progressed quite a bit, with no out-of-season practice, between her freshman and sophomore seasons in roundball. A comment often heard from others is Gates' quiet, humble demeanor. Despite her considerable athletic ability, she has never demonstrated a need to unduly call attention to herself, rather to her team. Her teammates in both sports obviously enjoy playing alongside her.

 

 

Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ FH: Latter-season starters

In the latter part of the season, starters for La Jolla High's field hockey team consisted of the following (other than Izzie Melvin's injury):


         #18                                                          #15                                                      #13
       Senior                                                  Freshman                                           Sophomore
Lauren Robbins                                       Nikki Collins                                       Evie Bass
  Left Forward                                        Center Forward                                    Right Forward


                                           #9                                                              #7
                                       Senior                                                        Junior
                              Jenna Harmeyer                                      Trisha Turner
                                    Left Inner                                                 Right Inner


         #5                                                            #2                                                          #6
  Sophomore                                                 Senior                                                    Senior
   Juli Lana                                            Kelly Collins                                          Izzie Melvin
Left Midfielder                                   Center Midfielder                                    Right Midfielder


                                       #11                                                              #14
                                     Senior                                                          Junior                       
                               Gabby Person                                        Maya Hildebrand
                                   Left Back                                                     Sweeper


                                                                       #21
                                                                     Senior
                                                               Katja Sarain
                                                                 Goalkeeper


(Information provided by Izzie Melvin)


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ FH: Seniors, continued

Lauren Robbins plays lacrosse year-round and "loves to hike and play with her pets," according to La Jolla High field hockey coach Paula Conway. "Her favorite memory is the beetle incident that caused the team seven years of bad luck!" Lauren, who played forward on varsity for three years, plans to major in Environmental Studies and hopes to attend Santa Clara University. Her parents are Charlene and Andy Robbins.

Gabby Person can make her eyes vibrate. Her favorite memories are the team sleepovers and the terrible movies they watched. Gabby enjoys robotics and learning languages in her spare time. She is planning on majoring in Computer Science and attending either MIT or Carnegie. A captain, she has played on varsity for three years and pretty much every position imaginable. Her parents are Suzanne and James Person.

Jenna Harmeyer's favorite field hockey memory was beating Cathedral at Cathedral on their Senior Night. She is a captain, is a midfielder, and has played on varsity for three years. She also plays basketball and was a state qualifier in track last year for the 400-meter relay team. Her parents are Jeff and Marilynne Harmeyer. Jenna would like to attend UCLA and major in biology. From Coach Conway's Senior Game notes: "In all of her free time, Jenna has managed to memorize the entire Napoleon Dynamite dance...And will now perform it for us!"

Izzie Melvin enjoys scuba diving, writing, yoga, and discovering new music. She plans on majoring in Journalism at Cal Poly. Her favorite hockey memory is the sleepover last year at the Pringles' house, and that her teammates have become her closest friends. Izzie, who was escorted in the Senior Game recognition by her mother, Suzanne Melvin, is a defender who played two years on varsity.

Kelly Collins likes to play soccer, swim, surf, travel, and horseback ride. Her favorite field hockey memory is having been able to play on the same team with her sister Nikki. She is interested in attending Stanford and majoring in Business. In her free time, Kelly started a non-profit business called World Rack. A captain, she played three years on varsity, and her parents are Suzi and Michael Collins.

Please forgive any spelling errors. The above information is taken off Coach Conway's notes.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ FB: Carlton O'Neal

Late Saturday night, the day after La Jolla's last playoff football game, senior receiver Carlton O'Neal posted a message on his Facebook page expressing his enjoyment and acknowledging the fact it was his last high school football game.

O'Neal wrote: "To all the fans that have come out and watched us play over the past four years: thank you. It was really fun while it lasted. I loved nothing more than donning the red and black and playing for LJ.

"To all my teammates: all good things have to come to an end unfortunately. You juniors need to step up and make this team yours. Before you know it, you will be done too. Don't allow yourself to finish next season with regrets. It sucks."

Carlton is one of the more articulate athletes I have interviewed over the past two years.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper

LJ FB: Super sophs

Daniel McColl, Andrew Mitchell, and Joe Vang have been fixtures in the La Jolla High football enterprise this season, all three sophomores who have made themselves visible with their contributions on defense and offense.

McColl has played linebacker and line. Mitchell has had a lot of stops on defense--his name gets called frequently by the P.A. announcer during games. Vang picked up the slack when senior running back Reid Martin missed the first six games of the season, and has continued to contribute once Martin was back, forming a tandem or rotation in the backfield.

McColl was also seen providing some protection for quarterback Collin Rugg on offense against Christian High in the season-ending game Nov. 21.


Copyright 2014 Ed Piper