Viking guard Zach Duffy looks for pass in
LJHS's team offense during first quarter.
(Photo by Ed Piper)
La Jolla lost at Mission Bay in the first round of Western League play 63-44 in a dreary, low-attendance walk-through that took place in an almost-silent gym. The Vikings trailed 23-8 after one quarter.
In the rematch at La Jolla, the Vikes nearly reversed the score of the earlier contest in the early going as they stuck it to the Buccaneers with leads of 11-2, 18-7, and 21-9.
The hosts still managed to keep the air in the tires as things got sketchier with the Bucs waking up to the fact they were playing a whole different opponent than the earlier matchup. LJHS maintained a small lead of 38-32 early in the third quarter. The red and black even escaped the third quarter with a slim 45-40 lead. It portended for a great finish, which it was.
Which is all to say that La Jolla parents and students went home with big grins on their faces. The reign of terror (losing six of seven) was over, with back-to-back wins over league opponents University City and Mission Bay by a total of three points. If that doesn't make you enjoy the sport, nothing will.
Ladd Castellano fired in his usual 14 points on two three's and three field goals inside the arc.
Alex Pitrofsky looked willing to battle Mission Bay's big men, including 6'9" Armstrong Ojunkwu. Pitro plunked in four buckets spread over the first three quarters.
Wing Owen Porter went to the mat for the Vikings, bringing his lunch pail and eventually fouling out with 1:18 to go, the score 50-49, the Bucs leading.
In Coach Paul Baranowski's tight rotation, only three other players played besides Reed Farley: Mark Rawdin, with four points, Zach Duffy with two ("I don't make three-pointers anymore," he said jokingly before the second half), and Gaynor Blackmon, who did some ball-handling and played the final minute after Porter fouled out.
Farley finished with 21 points, including the game-winner with three seconds left for the 51-50 triumph.
Copyright 2015 Ed Piper
No comments:
Post a Comment