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
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