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
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