Paean to balling

L.J.: a dream in motion.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

There is an art to basketball, a flow that you can feel when you're playing it, can see when you are watching it.

The movement of athletes in the rhythm of ball creates a symphony. A defender mirrors the posture of the ball-handler he is guarding, showing the ballet-like nature to the sport.

James Naismith, the founder of the sport, would have liked this part of his activity. He never saw it at the level it is played today.

I thought about some of this as the athletes from Corona Centennial and opposing Fairfax cavorted in front of me on the nearby court, only feet away from my front-row bleacher seat at the Holiday Classic.

Someone said elite basketball players are among the best athletes in the world, and I believe it, incorporating grace, speed, strength, and balance. It's just amazing what talented basketball players can do.

L.J. Figueroa, a junior who plays for Oldsmar Christian School of Florida, which also played in the Torrey Pines tournament, took the ball on one three-quarter-court lunge to the basket. He is a 6'5" guard who plays much bigger.

L.J., whose initials I've said I like, is tall, sinewy, built to ball. He has a crop of hair which accentuates his vertical nature--vertical up and to the hoop.

On this particular drive, which began with his steal, he took a gauge on the basket far ahead of him as he sped forward. His long strides covered a third of the court in only a couple of steps.

As he got in top-of-the-key range, he began to gather himself for his final assault on the basket.

He had a defender to deal with, so he knew he would have to protect the ball and put it up in some way that would not be blocked.

It was nearly breath-taking as he leaped out to elongated steps forward, controlled the ball to his side, and stretched finally with the ball held in both hands as he launched.

It was "faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive" in Superman-style. Figueroa, instead of attempting a slam, which he could have done, stayed within himself to lay the ball softly up and in. He cradled the ball in experienced hands that knew he didn't want to mess this one up.

Sure, it was art. But it was also for competitive edge, and he wanted this basket to go in, not just look good.

We, the initiated, watched in appreciation and awe of his fine art. So natural, though developed over years and years of balling.

Sometimes it's such a shock when the TV analyst interviews an athlete after the game, and their words just aren't as eloquent as what they have displayed with their bodies. I wouldn't want L.J.'s articulate speech or lack thereof to dampen any of the joy and pleasure gained from watching such a brush stroke as what he has just taken.

What a canvas. What a result. Art. Etched by the finest touch, just a different medium than Van Gogh or Puccini.

Prep BB: Holiday Classic revisited

Jaylen Wiltz of Centennial

puts up a shot against

Fairfax's Ethan Anderson

in National Division

title game.

(Photo Ed Piper)

 
By Ed Piper

I caught up with my Canadian "neighbor" (see previous post) at the Under Armour Holiday Classic--I debate whether to include the name of the sponsor--on its fourth and final day, Wed., Dec. 30.

His name is Terry, and his friend is coach of the Olympian High girls basketball team, which won its division in the girls tournament at Del Norte this week.

Watching another several hours of basketball, including two full games and the tail end of another, I have a more positive view of the purpose and potential of prep schools that field basketball teams of elite athletes.

I left pretty negative about the whole "showcase" element of the Holiday Classic two days prior, when private schools sported teams full of fantastic athletes but who played like individuals--so as to impress scouts and coaches at the tournament, held at Torrey Pines High from last Saturday through yesterday.

As a public school teacher who just retired, I really hold fast to the idea that schools are educational institutions first, who theoretically should be sporting athletic teams to broaden their young students' high school experience.

But people are going to do what they do, which is basketball people taking the idea to the nth power, with expert coaches combining with star athletes culled from the nation's--and world's--crop of young people who want to see how well they can do in their chosen sport.

In the high school bracketed tournament at Torrey Pines, Fairfax broke out to an enormous lead against Corona Centennial and held on to win the National Division title. These are outstanding athletes. At least they're attending high schools of a structure we could recognize.

The games sandwiched around the Fairfax-Centennial contest--we locals had hoped Foothills Christian or St. Augustine could have reached the final, but Foothills, after defeating the Saints Tuesday, fell in the semifinals--were so-called "showcase" matchups between teams that don't play in a traditional CIF-type interscholastic structure.

These are incredible athletes, and obviously seasoned beyond the "high school" players in the bracketed divisions, once you watch their savvy in passing, shooting, even leaping ability. The rosters of the Jefferson, Oldsmar, and other squads are stacked from top to bottom with talent. Your standard excellent high school team doesn't list this many top athletes on its roster.

My ambivalence at the tournament was the fact I can enjoy stellar amateur and pre-college basketball right here in San Diego, a short drive from my home. But the money in the game means sponsorships, equipment supplied to teams, these squads from prep schools being flown out here just to be exposed to scouts and coaches in a competitive atmosphere. Where do the interests of the kids playing the game end and the desires of the corporate interests begin? There is potential for abuse.

Back to my Canadian colleague, who I chatted basketball with both Monday and Wednesday during games, he said as people filed out after the Fairfax-Centennial game with the Oldsmar-Northfield Mount Hermon game about to start, "Fair weather. That's what the weather is in San Diego. And the way the fans are. That's why they can't keep a pro basketball team." He was referring to the fact That years ago, the San Diego Rockets and the Clippers both left town for greener NBA pastures.

I disagree with him. I told him. I think a large majority of the fans came to the Holiday Classic to watch the National Division teams, because the interest is in high school teams that represent a school and play in a league. You can rate them. You can locate them on a map.

The prep school teams seem so unrooted. These schools can offer prospective players free tuition, and in the case of Northfield Mount Hermon, a boarding school in New Hampshire, free room and board. The kids there live on campus. Who wouldn't want to play there, coached by a highly-qualified coach (coaches, actually), flying to far-away tournaments? Boy, if I had had the talent back in the day, I would have been interested.

With the predominance of the "showcase" games between prep school teams in the evening program, the high school tournament games get pushed to the side rail. Torrey Pines, the host school whose coach, John Olive, runs the tournament, played at 9 a.m. in the morning. St. Augustine, after losing in the second round to Foothills Christian, was relegated to an early game, too. That's too bad.

LJ b freshman BB 47, Steele Canyon 33

La  Jolla's freshman boys basketball team defeated Steele Canyon, 47-33, to win the championship of the Grossmont Invitational Wed., Dec. 30.

The baby Vikings are now 7-0 on the young season.

Coach Huseyin Demiral's squad features a starting lineup of Jacob Duffy, Gabe Solis, Nick Hulquist, Carsten Fehlen, and Nathaniel Gates.

Emmy Godinez and Otto Lenz are also in the rotation.

LJ b freshman BB: Grossmont Invitational

La Jolla's freshman boys basketball team plays in the finals of the Grossmont Invitational Wed., Dec. 30, at 7:30 p.m.

Freshman players include Aldo Vallejo, Gabe Solis, Jackson Sherrer, and Otto Lenz.

Also, Nick Hulquist, Emiliano Godinez, and Nathaniel Gates.

In addition, Carsten Fehlen, Jacob Duffy, and Luciano Chavez.

Prep BB: Holiday Classic

Saints-Foothills game action before

a packed house at Torrey Pines.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

It was a slice of heaven: seated next to me, a dad and his son who played basketball at Bonita Vista last year and now attends UCLA. I found out later the dad coaches a girls basketball team, and had a game earlier in the day in the big girls holiday basketball tournament at Del Norte.

Behind me and to the side, a gentleman there to watch the Thomas Jefferson team from his native Brooklyn, where he played back in the day for Brooklyn Tech, a different high school. His significant other seated on the side opposite me.

On the dad's left side, a basketball teammate from childhood days, having flown down for the Holiday Classic at Torrey Pines High from Benicia in the Bay Area. Come to think of it, the Brooklyner lives in the Bay Area now, too. But this gentleman, closer to my age, hails from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Knows a ton of basketball.

For an added flavor, the guy directly behind me was a local and knew something about the St. Augustine team, calling out "Boy Wonder" when Saints guard Eric Monroe touched the ball.

We were among the humongous crowd that packed Torrey Pines' gym to see the two top teams in San Diego County face off--Foothills Christian and St. Augustine. Completely unexpectedly, the game resulted in a blowout, with the Knights sand-blasting the Saints by 22 points. But it was still an enjoyable night for basketball.

Sometimes you go solo to an event, whether an athletic contest or otherwise, and the evening ends up serving up interaction and uplift. Other times, you go home having not talked to anyone, and the evening was dull.

This one was the former, with three or four cultures represented, multiple generations, and an easy camaraderie that quickly developed. The "showcase" game prior to the Foothills-Saints contest, featuring prep school teams with older players far more athletic and skilled than the high-schoolers, helped create an ambience that encouraged everyone's admiration or criticism and exchange of basketball knowledge.

Oldsmar Christian from Florida outshined Balboa of San Diego, which included Jaylen Hands, a talented 6'1" junior guard who the former Bonita Vista player knows personally. Hands displayed quickness, moves, and ball-handling skills that came through even as his team was outplayed decisively by Oldsmar. The rout started out 14-1 and continued from there.

I didn't know previously that there were schools like these "prep schools": They don't play within a CIF-like high school sports structure, they populate their rosters with 19-, even 20-year-olds, and they give their athletes a chance to develop their skills. Under Armour, the sponsor of the Holiday Classic, flew in several of these teams. Under Armour gear was visible among several of the teams in the tournament, not just the prep school teams. A lot of money is flowing through amateur basketball.

You would question if some of these prep school teams aren't just basketball factories, positioning kids who for some reason aren't in regular academic institutions doing their studies. Do these schools have any academic requirements their team members have to meet to stay eligible?

In the independent studies program I ran in the Juvenile Court and Community Schools for four years, I had students who only attended a time or two per week and did much of their schoolwork at home. But I didn't have any athletes playing for school teams, and our school didn't have athletic teams they could have played for. Do the preppers even have to show up for class, or do they just ball all the time?

L.J. Figueroa was my favorite on Oldsmar, a 6'5" junior (I don't know if that means his age, his credits, or what), who played a strong game for the Eagles. I like his initials, too, since I cover LJHS sports.

Some of these guys could do things few regular high school players 18 or under could do. L.J.'s teammates, Troy Baxter, Dontay Bassett (I called him "Dante Bichette" after the former Angel/Rockie power hitter), and Eric Hester are headed on basketball scholarships to the University of South Florida, the University of Florida, and the University of Florida, respectively.

The premium in the prep school "showcase" games (the one after the Foothills-Saints game was between Jefferson and St. Frances of Baltimore) was on individual prowess, since the purpose of Under Armour's flying the teams out here is to give the players exposure to college scouts. The Canadian gentleman and I agreed there was little team cohesion in the prep school games other than on Oldsmar's side.

When one player threw up a wild layup attempt that bounced off the backboard, our Brooklyn neighbor called out "window washing". I had never heard that term before. It seemed apropos.

In my five-hour outing, including driving through pounding rain up the I-5 at 4:15 in the afternoon to get to hoop heaven, I don't think I've ever learned more basketball in one sitting than I did next to my Ottawan tutor, who stayed for the later prep game after Saints-Foothills, after others cleared out. A night of x's-and-o's any coach would have been proud of.

Prep b BB: Foothills Christian and St. Augustine



T.J. Leaf's Phi Slamma Jamma

imitation, as Saints' Eric

Monroe looks on.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Oh, brother.

Foothills Christian's boys basketball team, led by 6'10" T.J. Leaf, thoroughly dominated St. Augustine in coasting to an 85-63 win in the Holiday Classic at Torrey Pines High Mon., Dec. 28.

Here, the Saints came in, having just won their previous tournament. They're loaded. But they hit head-on with a force greater than them.

Thankfully, La Jolla doesn't have to face Foothills Christian this season. Reed Farley and others would say differently. (He was at the game with his dad Dan.)

But the Vikings do face St. Augustine on Tues., Jan. 19 at La Jolla. The Saints have Taeshon Cherry, a 6'8" sophomore. He played like a sophomore against the Knights. Of course, he was playing in stratified air, with talent on both teams in a high-level tournament, attended by coaches, scouts, and all the UnderArmour teams the sponsor could fly in. (That's another story.)

Martin Tombe, a 6'5" forward, showed his solid skills, despite his team's thrashing. Eric Monroe, headed to Yale next year, hit six three-pointers, but he was a non-factor as Foothills went on a tear in the second quarter to blow the game open. The spread was 24 points at halftime, 30 later in the game.

Monroe is nicknamed "Boy Wonder" for having played on Coach Mike Haupt's varsity since he was a freshman, and for the thick-framed glasses which are his trademark.

Plus the Catholic all-boys school has talent coming off the bench, including Tariq Thompson, the son of one of my former principals. So La Jolla will have plenty to contend with Jan. 19.

One good thing about Foothills' victory was that it wasn't the Saints winning big. At least the Vikings can take solace in that.

But the Vikings are better--not great--than they have been, with better ball-handling and more savvy. They can't get the deer-in-the-headlights look when they face a top team. They did that back in the days when playing Lincoln at Lincoln, when Farley was a freshman and his teammates looked terrified. He was the only one visibly relishing the confrontation with the Hornets, while the others were shaking.

They had that look again in the first quarter against Torrey Pines a week ago, though they were able to fight to within two points at halftime before falling by 14.

Foothills is a joy to watch. Leaf, who is coached by his dad Brad and his brother Troy, who set a CIF scoring record during his playing days, has a funny shot from outside, but as a person next to me said, "It goes in." T.J. worked inside, as well, pounding down four slam dunks.

Senior guard Nikko Paranada, whose last name means "for nothing" in Spanish, is for something, playing an effective point. I personally like watching Luis Salgado, a 6'6" forward with a fade haircut. He was very potent in last year's CIF playoff run. He's big, mobile, active, and doesn't get the recognition Leaf gets.

Another gifted Knight is Omajae Smith, who plays at the opposite forward. He's 6'4" and likewise would cause headaches for the Vikings, who don't have to play them. La Jolla did face Foothills Christian in a summer league game at Alliant University in 2014. T.J. Leaf was still developing at that point.

Brad Leaf uses a pro-style offense, with cross-court passes characterizing a set offense, and Leaf setting up at high, as well as low, post. They play it at a quick speed, too. Not lumbering.

Coach Paul Baranowski's La Jolla bunch will have to come in like Alex Pitrofsky did against Grossmont's Tommy Rutherford last week: with their minds set to play hard, with confidence to counteract their fears.

The Vikings upset Rutherford and seventh-ranked Grossmont, 68-59. It was Pitrofsky's finest performance in his high school career, by far. He fouled out in closing minutes, not due to not doing his job--but because he used every tool at his disposal, riding the 6'9" Rutherford physically to frustrate him and wear him down.

LJ b BB: Where they stand

By Ed Piper

Eddie Parker, starting guard for La Jolla's 8-2 basketball team, is kicking it with family at Big Bear. So this is a good time to assess where the Vikings are, the preleague/tournament season done, a Western League-opening game at Cathedral Catholic Jan. 5 coming next.

The Vikings have to be pretty pleased with how they have played so far. Besides the eight wins in 10 games, they have beaten the teams they should have beaten, and they have played pretty tough against the really good teams.

La Jolla upset number-seven Grossmont, 68-59, Tues., Dec. 22, in the Foothillers' own tournament. The Hillers' star, Tommy Rutherford, pocketed 32 points. But as the Vikings' Alex Pitrofsky said after the breath-taking victory, they knew he was going to get his points.

Pitrofsky showed a ton of growth since La Jolla's Black Friday scrimmage against Grossmont a month ago, when Alex really didn't know how to be physical with Tommy. Assistant coach Huseyin Demiral was seen mentoring Pitrofsky during that scrimmage, in the same gym at Grossmont where the Vikings later defeated the Hillers. Demiral told him about getting to the spot on the lower block where Rutherford was going to set up before he did, then using physical force to push on him and wear him down.

Asked how he achieved his success harrying and harassing Rutherford after the upset win--despite the 6'9" center scoring 32 points against LJHS--Pitrofsky said, "Good, good. I know he's going to get his points. He's their top guy." Asked if he came in with confidence against one of the county's top players, he said, "Yeah, I played him before" (in the scrimmage).

The skill development up front complements a solid backcourt, where Reed Farley is Reed Farley--a triple-double Wed., Dec. 23, in a blowout win over Monte Vista--and Parker, though not a consistent outside threat, takes care of the ball and plays with visible confidence. The Vikings didn't have someone to complement Farley well last year, and it was their downfall. Now Parker has a year of seasoning, and Pitrofsky the same.

"The mental toughness of this year's team is the best of the three years I've been here," said Farley this week as La Jolla won four of its five games in the Grossmont Winter Classic. The Vikings aren't a great team, but they are pretty good and they are hitting on a lot of cylinders.

Back at the beginning of December, Coach Paul Baranowski commented, "Potentially, this year's team can be the best of the teams I've had here" (covering three years).

As a former principal of mine used to tell students at graduation, "Don't make this the best thing you ever do." In other words, there is more ahead. Keep growing, keep getting better.

In the Vikings' case, this is so true. The December tournament season was fun, but it was merely preparation for what's coming: the main dish, the Western League.

Cathedral hosts the red and black in the league opener in a week and a half. St. Augustine is ranked number two in the county by one poll, number one by MaxPreps, and number six in the state by the latter. Coach Mike Haupt's team is stellar, with 6'8" sophomore Taeshon Cherry playing cherry. The Saints will open up in the Holiday Classic at Torrey Pines Sat., Dec. 26. If you have a chance, go see that tournament. It is a lot of fun.

The first date with the Saints is on Fay Ave. on Jan. 19.

Lincoln, we don't know much about. Mission Bay has 6'5" Justin Moore, who was an all-league selection next year.

But La Jolla needs to read its own clippings, and not worry about these other teams. As all the good coaches emphasize, a team needs to focus on what it does well.

A few people don't think I'm totally crazy to propose the 6'4" Farley rotating in to guard and harass the 7-foot Brandon McCoy when the Vikings travel to Cathedral. Even Reed knows McCoy's psyche, as the two have observed each other, and Moore runs hot-and-cold. It's the rest of the Dons that have to be played well against, in addition. They were good before they got Moore as a transfer.

Nick Hammel now has a month of varsity playing experience. His fellow junior and teammate on the football team Daniel McColl does, too. They would be likely choices for Baranowski's starting lineup in January.

Morgan Albers is dependable off the bench in the front court. Charlie Gal had more minutes Wednesday night against the Monarchs, and he's still a sophomore, so he has time to develop. His task is to broaden his game from his offensive moves at the lower block to include a role in the team offense and defense. He'll figure it out with Baranowski's tutelage.

Tony Coan is the X factor. He already has a good outside shot. But as many shooters are, he is streaky, so if he comes in and hits a shot, his confidence grows to hit the next shot. The same is true of Hammel, another good outside shooter. Parker started off the season opener at Petco Park with two quick three's against Helix, and the whole team barreled on from there--while Helix's confidence waned more and more.

If Parker, Farley, Hammel, Coan, and/or Quinn Rawdin, a good lefty, can hit some shots right off the bat, the red can become the next big thing in the Western League. People at the Grossmont tournament were already talking about how good La Jolla is. Said one observer, "I know they're good and going to play well."

LJ b BB 82, Monte Vista 60

Daniel McColl (right) pulls away as teammate

Alex Pitrofsky battles three Monarchs for

the ball in first half.

(Photos by Ed Piper) 

By Ed Piper

The La Jolla Vikings went on scoring runs in the second and third quarters Wed., Dec. 23, and finally made it stick the second time to put away a struggling Monte Vista team they had beaten previously. La Jolla prevailed, 82-60, in the Grossmont Winter Classic as junior Reed Farley recorded his first triple-double in his three-year varsity career at La Jolla.

Farley joked after the Vikings' fifth game in six days in the tournament, and final game of 2015, "You can add my turnovers" to give him a quadruple-double. La Jolla (now 8-2) can afford some levity, in view of a solid showing through the pre-league schedule in December, including a 68-59 upset of seventh-ranked Grossmont the night before, and a 14-point loss to fifth-ranked Torrey Pines in a good effort earlier in the tourney.

Farley merited his triple-double by scoring 11 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, all off the defensive glass, and dishing out 13 assists. He actually fell short of his "quadruple-double", turning the ball over eight times.

The Vikings' Eddie Parker started off the fireworks in the opening quarter with his first slam dunk ever, and La Jolla jumped out to an 18-6 lead. Senior Alex Pitrofsky went back door on a set play to take a Farley pass to score. Forward Daniel McColl turned from the left block for a basket before Parker's slam. McColl came back to score on a fast break feed from Farley, and Morgan Albers, back to his vital reserve role, put in a layup.

Finally, guard Nick Hammel finished after an Albers steal before Parker and Farley, the Vikings' starting backcourt mates, scored consecutively to put LJHS up 18-6 and seemingly pulling away from the weakened Monarchs. Farley's score came on a nice drive all the way to the rim from his point position at the top of the offense.

Morgan Albers slips by Tre

Owens (10) of Monte Vista.

But Monte Vista, whom La Jolla had barely beaten, 61-58, Dec. 11 in the Hilltop tournament, had something to say in the second quarter before being putting away. Coach Mike Tully's squad, though dressing out only eight players against La Jolla, whittled the lead down to five by the end of the second quarter behind heroics by seniors Tre Owens, who scored four baskets in the quarter, and Shai Stevenson, who had three.

The Vikings played down to the Monarchs' level, with numerous turnovers as they threw caution to the wind and gave up baskets playground-style.

La Jolla obviously regrouped during halftime under Coach Paul Baranowski, because the Vikings came out focused from the start of the third quarter. Pitrofsky, who sat part of the first half, redeemed himself with a hook shot in the first minute of the quarter and scored 10 points in four minutes, 12 in the third period and La Jolla was punishing Monte Vista 63-40.

The second scoring spurt was the charm, as the Vikings played even with the Monarchs in the fourth quarter and maintained their lead while trading baskets with their opponents. Albers was a whirlwind of activity, employing his favored left-handed shots multiple times, though being a natural righty. He had four baskets, including two three-point plays while being fouled going to the hoop.

"I've always had it (the left-handed shot)," replied Albers two days before when told his lefty shots have become a noticeable feature of his game already this season.

In the crucial third quarter, the 6'6" Pitrofsky was aggressive on the offensive boards, with two putbacks among his half dozen goals and no Monarch big man to impede his movement. McColl, who had an up-and-down December after transitioning from football, made his presence known with a putback and a layup off a pass from Pitrofsky during the Vikings' run to put away Monte Vista.

La Jolla outscored its foe 28-11 during the decisive third-quarter spurt.

Parker, asked about the Vikings' loss of their lead in the second quarter, then comeback to put the game away, said, "We have to stay focused."

Pitrofsky led La Jolla scorers with 18 points, including 14 in the third period. Albers had 13, Parker 12, and McColl 10.

The Monarchs' Owens led all scorers with 28, including four three-pointers.

Vikes' Nick Hammel scores

off Albers' steal in first

quarter for 14-6 lead.

LJ BB 68, Grossmont 59

With three minutes left in the third quarter Tues., Dec. 22, Grossmont's Tommy Rutherford was awarded four free throws--two for being fouled by La Jolla's Alex Pitrofsky, plus two for a technical on Pitrofsky's reaction to the call. It was an over-reaction by the referee to a grimace and a yell of frustration, but called nevertheless.

Rutherford, having an excellent touch from the free throw line despite being 6'9", made all four of his free throws. The Foothillers immediately followed with a layup by Marquise Purnell for a quick six-point turnaround, from the Vikings trailing by only one point to now being down 40-33.

Having scratched and clawed back from as much as an 11-point deficit, and seven points at halftime, La Jolla could have folded its tents at this point against the seventh-ranked team in the county.

Instead, the underdog Vikes kept the pressure on, edged back to take the lead, and ultimately took home a stunning 68-59 win over Grossmont in the Hillers' own tournament.

Soon after his four consecutive free throws, Rutherford had to exit the game with his fourth foul with 1:19 left in the third quarter. La Jolla's Reed Farley knotted the score, 42-42, by making one of two free throws to start the final quarter.

The visitors took the lead for the first time in the game, 45-42, on one of Farley's five three-point bombs.

The 6'4" junior then scored on a patented drive from the left wing after Purnell hit a hook, and with the point guard's final three, La Jolla was up, 50-44, with 4:48 left in the game.

It was almost as if the drama were orchestrated when Farley left stage right with his fifth foul a minute later. That allowed his teammates room on the floor to add their flavor to the mix.

Eddie Parker, Farley's fellow backcourt mate, hit a three-pointer with the shot clock running out as La Jolla erected a seven-point lead at 2:17. Parker had four treys on the night. By now, Grossmont coach Frank Foggiano had reinserted Rutherford.

But as Farley commented after the win, "After we got a few stops, our confidence grew." The tiger within the Vikings was unleashed, and even with Pitrofsky following Reed to the bench with his fifth foul, different players made key plays in the closing moments.

Daniel McColl, a forward, deftly dribbled the ball from three-quarters court and drove to the Viking hoop for a basket and free throw on the foul.

Parker scored against the Grossmont press. Pitrofsky, before sitting down, blocked a pass intended for Rutherford. Guard Tony Coan tipped another pass to the Hillers' big man that La Jolla gained possession of.

Nick Hammel was fouled as Grossmont had to stop the clock with seconds ticking down to 0:40.6, the Vikings leading 64-59. La Jolla, by now, had the Foothillers on their heels. Hammel made both free throws for a little breathing room, 66-59.

Hammel was fouled again with 0:22.1 on the clock. He again made both free throws. The Vikings were home free, 68-59.

La Jolla (7-2) plays its fifth and final game in the Grossmont Winter Invitational Wed., Dec. 23, at 6 p.m. against Monte Vista, whom the Vikings beat Dec. 11 in a poorly-played game to finish the Hilltop tournament.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ b soccer 1, King-Chavez 5

Viking captain Andrew Estrella tries to move the ball

upfield against duress on the unmown grass.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

On the first day of winter break, missing several starters due to the vacation, La Jolla got smoked 5-1 by a talented King-Chavez team under primitive field conditions that were no excuse for the loss.

The Vikings, led by goalie Tai Nguyen and defender Noah Shen, held the Vaqueros scoreless until the 38th minute of the first half, giving up a single goal and trailing only 1-nil at the half.

But King-Chavez's relentless attack, combined with the Vikings' position holes filled by junior varsity players, led to a four-goal blitz in the second half. La Jolla could only answer with one goal of its own.

With cumbia music pounding in the King-Chavez rooting section, Vaquero Jose Solorio scored two goals and assisted with another. Teammate Rafael Sanchez, a senior, added his own goal and had two assists.

The other King-Chavez goals were scored by Marcos Celestino and Carlos Loeza, the latter who added an assist.

Solorio, a junior, has scored 13 of his teams 23 goals this season. He also has five of the Vaqueros' 12 assists.

La Jolla coach Marcos Gonzales told his players at halftime that they were playing well. Jack Barone was active moving the ball at midfield. Shen played his part.

But King-Chavez had an advantage in the first half on time of possession, clearly controlling the ball more than the visitors.

Midfielder Jack Barone, a 6'1" junior,

directs traffic against an aggressive

King-Chavez squad.

Forward Cesar Canton, who scored two goals in the Vikings' win at Clairemont Fri., Dec. 18, looked a little frustrated in the first half at the lack of scoring chances and King-Chavez's aggressive marking.

The field at Memorial Prep presented its own issues. The grass was unmowed, making it lumpy with clumps of growth here and there. The illumination was by four portable lights maintenance workers said are kept on the field throughout the season. The lights wouldn't be sufficient for a football game--certainly not for a baseball game. But that's what is provided for soccer.

The field is shorter than a standard high school rectangle laid on a football field. The squiggly chalk lines were drawn just prior to opening tap.

But both teams had to play under the same conditions, so the Vikings had no excuse due to these game circumstances.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ BB 56, Eastlake 44

Morgan Albers tries to sneak in underneath to score

in the first quarter against Eastlake. He had no points,

but had three rebounds and a steal.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

La Jolla outscored Eastlake 17-8 in the second quarter and sailed to a 56-44 win in the Grossmont Invitational Mon., Dec. 21, against a team the Vikings had beaten previously.

In the spurt before halftime, giving them a 13-point lead, the Vikes (now 6-2) rode four hoops by center Alex Pitrofsky on feeds from different teammates after big man Izale Readen was taken out by Eastlake coach Marlon King. That opened up the inside for the 6'6" Pitrofsky, who then could move freely.

Guard Nick Hammel said prior to the contest that to keep an edge against a team La Jolla had already beaten 64-51 on Dec. 4 in the Hilltop tournament, "You have to think that if they had played a little better, and we had played a little worse, they would have won."

So Hammel and Morgan Albers, in starting roles as LJHS coach Paul Baranowski stayed with his core trio of Reed Farley, Eddie Parker, and Pitrofsky, helped La Jolla move to an early 12-5 lead against a smaller Titan squad.

Then, after 6'3" Readen exited with Eastlake down 21-12, Viking teammates quickly found the unhindered Pitrofsky for a layup, he scored on a tip-in of an Albers miss, he followed with another putback, and finally his layup on a fast break put La Jolla in command, 31-18, at halftime. It was one more than the final margin.

Pitrofsky finished with 15 points to lead the Vikings.

The Vikings made only two of 11 three-pointers, or 18 percent. But they used a familiar formula in their six wins, dispersing scoring among several players and employing team defense that was effective enough.

Parker had 11 points, Farley nine points, Daniel McColl eight, and Hammel six. Reed also dished out eight assists.

Nick Hammel (12) keeps guard while Titan Josh

Olave moves the ball in the Eastlake

offense in first half.

Hammel hit all four of his free throws, as did McColl, who has a nice touch for a big man. Pitrofsky led with nine rebounds, Hammel and Farley five each. That's a good stat line for Farley: 9-5-8. He added two steals, as well.

McColl said before the game he is over the effects of the flu that made him miss a game last week in the Hilltop tournament.

La Jolla played as if their minds were on the game, even with Christmas four days away and a 14-point loss to a polished Torrey Pines team the day before. Parker said his family is going to Big Bear for skiing for three days, including Christmas Day Friday. Baranowski said his family isn't driving to Tucson for the holiday, as "We don't have any family left there."


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ g soccer: Away games

"You must be tired," Charlotte Riley, mother of Phoebe and Olivia, greeted a late arriver at halftime who battled traffic for an hour and 15 minutes to get to La Jolla's soccer game at Poway Thurs., Dec. 17.

"The year of away games," she said. The mother of the two all-leaguers could commiserate. Everybody is driving more this season, with all games being on the road for soccer, as well as for football and field hockey--any Viking sport played on the football field while it's under construction.

The drive to Otay Ranch for the girls' soccer game Tues., Dec. 15, took one traveler at peak commute time one hour.

Kristin Jones, the girls soccer coach, said she scheduled all of her team's 2014-15 games away, as well, because the original plan was to break ground on construction in December 2014, in the middle of the winter soccer season.

Then, with everyone talking about El Nino coming, think of possible delays in construction during January, February, and March 2016 due to the rains. Jones, potentially, could face a third consecutive season with all or most games at away sites, if construction is delayed substantially.

The original estimate for the duration of the remake of Edwards Stadium, with new locker rooms, coaches offices, press box, and tennis pavilion, was 18 months. Work on the project began right after graduation June 18.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ b soccer: 'Scary good'

Max Leonard comes out with the ball

in this encounter at Clairemont.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

La Jolla boys soccer coach Marcos Gonzales was feeling some of the euphoria from the Vikings' 2-0 win over Clairemont Fri., Dec. 18. Maybe it was the Christmas spirit.

"This year, good. Scary good next year," the head coach said of his team as he headed off the field to go home.

Forward Cesar Canton had just helped dispatch the Chieftains by scoring the only two goals of the game. Canton, 5'4" or so, is just a sophomore.

There are other "Super Sophomores" who are propelling the Vikings in the early pre-league season. Marco Furlanis, Mason Matalon, and Joe Wineman are a few of them.

Jack Barone, a junior, looks active. Andrew Estrella, a returning junior, is captain this year. Tai Nguyen is the new goalkeeper.

These younger players combined with seniors like Noah Shen, a returning defender, to squelch Clairemont. It was a match filled with complaints, remarks, and yellow cards from the referees.

Said Shen after Canton's pair of goals, "Without him we probably wouldn't have won our past games."

Vikes' Marco Furlanis has looked

go in pre-league season.

Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ b BB 49, Torrey Pines 63



Nick Hammel hits a three to

close out Vikings' scoring

in 1st quarter.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

La Jolla gave it the good fight, but dropped a 63-49 decision to Torrey Pines on the second day of the Grossmont Basketball Invitational Sat., Dec. 19.

The Vikings, facing a bigger, stronger Falcon lineup featuring 6'9" center Jacob Gilliam and 6'4" guard Jackson Strong, trailed 13-7 in the first quarter but fought back to be down only 21-19 at the half.

But Torrey Pines, coming off a tournament title in the Horsman Invitational a week ago, outscored La Jolla 24-14 in the third quarter to pull away for the 14-point win.

Reed Farley led the Vikings with 16 points. Nick Hammel had 10. No other Viking was in double figures.

Gilliam, who finished with 18 points, bulled his way into the key for early baskets as Torrey Pines went out to an early lead. He was also intimidating at the defensive end. But Viking Alex Pitrofsky battled him, giving up three inches in height, and Daniel McColl, only 6'2", tried to use his physicality close to the basket.

La Jolla coach Paul Baranowski, before the game, said he hadn't gotten the improvement "in all facets of the game" that he had wanted to see from his players the night before in a tournament-opening 77-57 win over a weak Hilltop team. "But it's another night," he said of the game against Torrey Pines, and another chance to up their game.

Reed Farley tries to drive between two Falcon

defenders in opening quarter.



The Vikings (5-2) looked nervous in the early going against the Falcons (6-1), fumbling the ball in trying to figure out how to deal with Gilliam's considerable presence and an aggressive team Falcon defense. The towering center must register close to 300 pounds, and though not fast, he used his mass adeptly to take up space. The junior scored three baskets in the opening quarter.

Meanwhile, Strong, the MVP in the Horsman tournament at West Hills, was a confident, controlling factor for the Falcons outside. He set up on the left baseline, defended by La Jolla's Eddie Parker. Strong had two baskets and two free throws in the first quarter.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ g soccer 0, Poway 3

Veteran La Jolla coach Kristin "Jonesy" Jones told her girls at halftime Thurs., Dec. 17, "No more goals," with the Vikings trailing at Poway, 2-0.

But La Jolla gave up a third goal to the Titans' Taylor Richards with 12:44 left in regulation time, and the red and black went into the two-week winter break with a 3-nil loss.

"Jonesy" hadn't been perturbed after her team fell at Otay Ranch two nights before, seeing good effort despite a couple of injured players unavailable.

This time, the former UCSD All-American wasn't pleased. "The weirdest 3-0 game I've coached," she said, unsmiling. "The normal 3-0 game, you feel dominated.

"But in the first half (among other things), we had a goal called back. At halftime, I told my players, 'Don't give up. Deal with the circumstances.'

"In the second half, I saw good effort." But it wasn't enough to come back.

It was a long drive up to Poway, in the midst of rush-hour traffic, and it undoubtedly was a long drive back.

Forward Phoebe Riley played 35 minutes of the first half and then was held back the first part of the second half by Jones. After the game, Riley said, "Not too good" on how her ankle was feeling. She said she tweaked it in the game against the Mustangs.

Four and a half months ago, she strained four ligaments in the ankle and has been on the mend ever since.

Goalie Vanessa Shaffer, who appears to be pretty relaxed during games, was asked if she always feels relaxed during games. "Do you always feel relaxed when you're taking photos?" she shot back to a reporter/photographer. Then, recovering, the sophomore said, "Yes, I'm pretty relaxed during games."

The Vikings practice Mon. and Tues., Dec. 21 and 22, on the LJHS softball field. Then the following week they practice without "Jonesy" being there. School resumes Jan. 4.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper