The Vikings' Reed Farley tries to block a shot by
the Saints' Otto Taylor (12) in the second half.
Farley was called for a two-shot foul.
(Photo by Ed Piper)
By Ed Piper
There was the inner game within La Jolla's basketball game at St. Augustine Tues., Feb. 16.
With the outcome of the game determined early, with the Saints' scorched-earth leads of 21-2 and 30-9 in their bandbox-of-a-home-court-advantage gym, what developed was a contest of pride and physicality.
The Vikings' Charlie Gal and the Saints' 6'8" sophomore star, Taeshon Cherry, were warned by the referees about roughness with five minutes left in the second quarter, St. Augustine steam-rolling by 21 points.
With four minutes left in the game, Saints coach Mike Haupt complained to the officials after Alex Pitrofsky of La Jolla pushed Sean Panado with both forearms. Officials declined to call a flagrant foul, but Haupt was concerned about his player getting injured. Viking coach Paul Baranowski removed Pitrofsky from the game.
After the finale, which ended 75-60 and La Jolla regaining a little pride after trailing by as much as 28 points in the second half, Cherry acknowledged he was spurred by the physical play that was going on.
He tomahawked a one-handed dunk with three minutes left in the second quarter as if to say, "So there."
But Viking guard Reed Farley, who finished with 14 points and at times in the second half looked like he was taking on most of the opposing team on drives to the basket, made his own statement earlier in the game.
Cherry, aroused by the pushing and shoving by Gal and Daniel McColl, who took turns on defense around him, missed a dunk at the Saints' end at the 3:30 mark of the second period. Farley immediately took the ball the length of the court and deposited a two-hand slam of his own.
McColl, after the game, likewise acknowledged the two teams were playing for keeps despite the wide margin in the score.
The play in the contest wasn't dirty. A game can be physical without involving dirty play.
Pitrofsky also had 14 points for La Jolla. The Saints' Otto Taylor led all scorers with 21. Cherry added 11.
La Jolla drops to 4-7 in the Western League, 15-10 overall. St. Augustine moves up to 9-2 in league, 20-5 overall. The Saints still trail Cathedral Catholic, which has beaten them twice, in the standings.
The Vikings look ahead to Senior Night in the final regular season home game against Scripps Ranch Fri., Feb. 19, a girls/boys doubleheader. Then La Jolla will await its seeding and placement in the Divison II playoffs at the CIF meeting the following morning. La Jolla opens the playoffs Wed., Feb. 24, at home.
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