Reed Farley (33) was active
in the second quarter after
being out 27 days.
(Photo by Ed Piper)
La Jolla nipped rival University City, 65-63, in a Western League grudge match before a huge UC student body home crowd competing in a fan competition with three other high schools.
The win was the Vikings' first in league play after six straight league losses over the past four weeks. The Vikes did defeat Otay Ranch in a non-league contest Sat., Feb. 7.
La Jolla improved to 3-7 in the Western League, 13-11 overall, with two games left in the league schedule. The key now is to finish well, so that the Vikings can secure the best CIF seed they can and avoid having to open the playoffs in two weeks against one of the high-ranked Division III teams.
La Jolla narrowly led entering halftime, 32-30.
The game was scheduled on Thursday, instead of the normal Friday, due to the four-day school holiday for Presidents Day. Friday is the first day of the extended weekend with no school.
Viking guard Reed Farley returned for the first time after missing the last seven games, and looked fully effective.
La Jolla Coach Paul Baranowski inserted him into the game for Zach Duffy with 3:58 left in the first quarter, with the Vikings trailing the Centurions 9-8.
On the Vikes' next possession, Farley attacked the basket and was rewarded with two free throws, of which he dropped one to knot the game at 9-9.
Postman Alex Pitrofsky was a noticeable beneficiary of the point guard's return, being in position shortly thereafter to take a feed and be fouled on a shot attempt. The 6'6" junior made one of two free throws for a 10-9 LJHS lead.
Pitrofsky then scored a field goal for 12-9.
After two UC scores, including a three, Alex laid the ball up again on a pass from Farley. The game stood tied, 14-14.
After the hosts pulled out to their first five-point lead of the night, 19-14, to end the first quarter, La Jolla came back to begin the second quarter with a tear of nine straight points and led 23-19.
Later, shooting guard Ladd Castellano hit a three-pointer, and Pitrofsky scored again inside. Alex hit two more baskets off assists by Reed to end the half.
The Vikings had to contend with the amped-up UC student body cheering section. The theme was "USA", with students wearing flags, warpaint, and everything else in red, white and blue. CIF San Diego Section officials were on hand to grade them in a four-high school competition called "The Battle of the Fans," between San Marcos, La Costa Canyon, and another North County school, besides UC.
UC kept it focused on cheering more for Centurion players, not riding LJHS players. Jim Esterbrooks, a CIF staff member present to evaluate, said one of the rules of the sportsmanship competition among the four schools is keeping things positive--not singling out opposing players for loud, derisive cheers. In an earlier game this season, Farley missed a shot and opposing fans were repetitive and brutal the rest of the game in shouting, "Airball, airball," whenever the guard touched the ball.
In the game at UC, this was not a feature of the crowd's chants. Before the game, and during the end of the close girls preliminary game, which UC narrowly won, whenever the TV camera present went on, the UC students became louder. KUSI's "Prep Pigskin Review" was on hand. (Viking Mark Rawdin's dad works at KUSI.)
LJHS Principal Dr. Chuck Podhorsky was enjoying the game. His children will attend UC when they grow to high school age. He laughed and said, "I guess I'll stand in the middle," regarding how he would deal with his professional and family rooting loyalties in the future.
Farley's return comes at a fortuitous time for La Jolla. The Vikings entertain Mission Bay and Cathedral Catholic in the final week of the Western League schedule, then enter the CIF playoffs with the momentum of having their full complement back and playing together.
Farley, despite the layoff for injury since Jan. 16, did not show rust. Asked before the game how his ankle felt, he replied, "It feels good." He looked good in action.
This allowed Castellano to stay in his shooting guard position.
Not a large contingent of La Jolla students attended the game. It was evident, though, that students in attendance were enjoying the four-day weekend they embarked following the end of classes Thursday. They have no classes Friday, and Presidents Day holiday is Mon., Feb. 16, with school closed.
Copyright 2015 Ed Piper
No comments:
Post a Comment