By Ed Piper, Jr.
It was "deja vu all over again" Tuesday evening, Nov. 29, for Coach Darice Carnaje's La Jolla basketball players as they opened their new season at home against South Bay power Bonita Vista and received the same treatment at the hands of the Lady Barons as they did last winter.
Though this was a tournament game in the Matador Invitational, Carnaje doesn't always set up these early-season encounters by chance--last year she had an early game against a strong team and commented she wanted a "wake-up" call for her girls.
Tiny Shyla Latone, all 5'3" of her, shot the eyes out of the basket from long range and helped bury the less-experienced Vikings 31-8 after one quarter, 46-14 by halftime before a modest mid-week crowd on a cold night. The final was 70-37.
La Jolla's Rebecca Saul, a hard-working junior, led the response to the Barons' full-court press facing an uphill battle.
After the opening tip, the Vikings won the ball out of bounds. Bonita Vista immediately stole the ball from Saul off the press and scored.
Another Baron steal saw the ball go out of bounds. But with one minute gone, Coach Tristan Lamb's pressers scored another bucket. Carnaje called timeout, down 4-0.
The deficit went to 10-0, as the Vikings' Petra Eaton missed two free throws and Sina Anae missed a shot. Eaton grabbed a rebound, as La Jolla continued working hard despite the intense pressure.
Finally, Anae scored her team's first points of the new season on a runner with 4:33 left in the first quarter. The LJHS scoreboard said 10-2.
Anae scored again, but meanwhile at the other end of the court Latone was heating up, bombing a three at 15-4, another one at 18-4, and the rout was on.
Sina scored two more baskets, including one on which she got fouled but didn't get the call. She looked at the referee, and this time she had reason. Sometimes players bark just to bark.
Saul had an assist on Anae's next basket with 1:46 to play.
Shortly, play had to be stopped when a metal piece used to anchor the volleyball stanchions to the gym floor came loose. Referees called time, and Carnaje showed versatility in resolving the safety issue by placing the anchor back in place and out of players' way.
Latone, wearing her trademark long ponytail that often makes reading the giant "23" on the back of her jersey difficult to read, used the pause to recharge and reload for two more threes. A favorite spot is on the right baseline.
At this time, Bishop's coach Marlon Wells and his star all-state player, Destiny Littleton, walked into the La Jolla gym. They probably were scouting Bonita Vista. They stayed for one quarter and left at halftime with the contest decided.
But Carnaje's troops continued to play hard in the second quarter. She uses every occasion to teach skills and raise her players' basketball I.Q.
Saul dribbled through the press and kept under control to make a layup to bring the score to 37-10 midway through the second period.
Latone was flawless at the free throw line, hitting a pair with 2:41 left in the half.
Anae scored, then scored again off a nice assist from Eaton to close the half.
The Vikings play their second game in the Matador Invitational Wednesday evening, Nov. 30, at Serra.
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