McClain Thiel (23) fights for the ball
in vanquishing of Valley Center
Dec. 23, 68-35. (Photos by Ed Piper, Jr.)
By Ed Piper, Jr.
After a night of being the underdog to third-ranked Torrey Pines and upsetting the Falcons at Grossmont High, La Jolla changed venues Fri., Dec. 23, to O'Farrell Charter School in Southeast San Diego and was the big dog against Valley Center.
In their final game of the annual Grossmont Invitational, the Vikings made quick work of the Jaguars, unleashing a 28-6 attack in the first quarter. Coach Paul Baranowski was able to sub in quickly his three available reserves--McClain Thiel, Garrett Brown, and Jacob Ohara--and let them play most of the rest of the way in a 68-35 blowout.
Valley Center seemed only too willing to let the favored-team script play out for the ninth-ranked Vikings. After one timeout and a mild-mannered chat from Coach Jon Jones, the team called out a weak "Jaguars" yell, indicative of the minimal counterattack they were able to mount.
Thiel showed movement, scrapped for loose balls, and passed during his extended play. Brown, who earlier in the month was seeing more action, still kept his head up and contributed some hustle.
Ohara, aided by being given some freedom in the free-wheeling game, said afterward that playing a 5-7 team like the Jaguars helped his confidence. "I'm obviously more comfortable against weaker
teams," he said.
Reed Farley met his quota of two or more
dunks a game, this two-hander in the
fourth quarter.
"Coach has had me working on my midrange shot, even though tonight I didn't get many midrange shots."
In a deep baritone, the 6-foot junior spoke about how he developed his knack for driving to the basket against taller opponents. "I think on previous teams I was one of the taller kids, so I was able to drive." He continued doing so last summer, even though he faced some taller defenders in the varsity spring and summer leagues and tournaments.
On personal preferences, he says he is a Mr. Frosti's man favoring Oreo shakes.
Baranowski, with his team's 10th win in 11 games in the opening month of the season in the books, spoke about the vital contribution forward Charlie Gal is making. Reed Farley's role was expected, but Gal has quickly evolved into a leading scorer with Farley, and La Jolla's leading rebounder.
"Charlie played a phenomenal game against Torrey Pines," said the 36-year coach of the 69-66 upset the night before. "We changed the way we played the big fella (6-9 Jake Gilliam). It got (Gal) in a little bit of foul trouble, so he had to adjust to that."
"Reed does what he does," said Baranowski in a realistic appraisal of his team's strengths. "It's a team game, but Charlie (is playing a key role up front). He's expanding his game. He has only scratched the surface (of his ability)."
Advised that the UT poll ranked the Vikings ninth before the win over Torrey Pines, the veteran coach said, "That shows I don't read the papers. We're still finding our way. Have any of the voters seen us play?"
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