LJ b BB: Backburner

Thiel just moments before his

bank shot to beat the shot

clock (see below).

(Photos by Ed Piper, Jr.)

By Ed Piper, Jr.

There was some kidding that went on after La Jolla's 70-45 blowout win at Bishop's Jan. 10.

Coach Paul Baranowski walked up to guard Quinn Rawdin, who was being interviewed by a reporter, and told him, "Behzad (Hashemi) says you can have his JV uniform."

Then, addressing the reporter, the La Jolla coach said with a wry grin, "But I'll deny it if anyone asks."

Such can be the light atmosphere after yet another one of the Vikings' 12 wins in 14 outings so far this season. Part of the joke was that Hashemi normally plays for the La Jolla junior varsity, so he really does have a JV uniform.

Only, the likelihood is that the 5-10 guard will still being using it, despite his cameo appearance for Baranowski's varsity against the Knights in the fourth quarter.

The quick guard, who at times has popped up on the Vikings' varsity earlier this season, made the most of his five minutes of fame, making a pair of free throws with 4:20 left to atone for having the ball stolen by Justin Woodley of Bishop's, then fouling him to give the burly senior a three-point play. That had narrowed the visitors' lead to only 16 from a high of 24, and Reed Farley was out injured, so there was no help coming from there.

Behzad's lightning layup.

 



Hashemi juked his defender at one point, which thrilled the easily-pleased LJHS student section. Behzad also drilled two more free throws at 2:26, then drove for a layup at 1:52 for a secure 68-45 lead.

The "blackout" crowd then went crazy when Garrett Brown, who has dropped in the rotation, made a basket with 31 seconds left.

Another ecstasy moment for the reserves was McClain Thiel's jumper as the shot clock ran out just before the three-minute mark. Thiel and Brown had only been inserted by Baranowski late in the third quarter. On his jumper from the right elbow just inside the arc, McClain banked it off the backboard as if he intended it that way. The Viking fans jumped in elation as the 35-second buzzer sounded while the ball went in.

(Check the photo above. It looks like Thiel was fouled before he took the shot, but no call was made.)

Rawdin agreed he felt a lot more comfortable shooting, making a trio of three-pointers against the Knights. He added a steal and basket, as well as a driving basket, the latter which he had shown earlier in the season.