LJ b BB 59, Canyon Crest 78

Vikings' Charlie Gal (R) shakes hands in the pregame
captains' meeting versus CCA. (Photo by Ed Piper)
 

I've been down so...long
that it looks like up to me
Why don't one of you people
come on and set me free?
                   The Doors

By Ed Piper

Behzad Hashemi put on his best shooting display of the season, a hot 3-of-4 spurt from beyond the arc in the first quarter--from center, left, and right, showing no preference for launching spot--and Charlie Gal and Jacob Ohara had 15 and 10 points, respectively.

But it wasn't enough, as Canyon Crest Academy rode Aaron Acosta's 20 points and Tyler Elsom's 17 to a 78-59 win over La Jolla in the Grossmont Winter Classic Fri., Dec. 22.

In a well-played game by two disciplined teams utilizing their half-court offenses, the Vikings, now owners of a five-game losing streak, were only seven down near the end of the third quarter.

The hosts were within three of the Ravens late in the first half at 40-37.

But, having trailed from the opening tip, going down 10-0 during a rocky start under CCA's three-quarter-court pressure, La Jolla battled back only to see things unravel in the final period as sophomore Frank Gelfman hit a three and another jumper around Chris Koo's trey to expand a nine-point Raven lead at the end of three quarters to put the game out of reach.

Hashemi, a quick, streaky 5'10" outside shooter, finished with 14 points. After his early burst, he cooled down to only make one basket, another three-pointer, the rest of the way.

Coach Paul Baranowski employed all able-bodied Vikings in the effort, with Gabe Solis subbing in early in the first quarter in an attempt to slow the streaking Ravens and to help the junior newcomer get his legs after sitting out the start of the season with a football injury. Reserve Langston Aron, another junior newcomer, also was inserted early and showed heart and athleticism against a smooth-running CCA squad.

Once again the Solis brothers, including Gabe's brother Diego, both guards, were on the floor at the same time in the second quarter.

In the fourth quarter, with the game decided, Gabe twice stole the ball at midcourt in Baranowski's press and passed to his younger brother. But both times Diego's layup attempts missed.

At their best, the Vikings (falling to 5-6 on the season) rallied from an early 11-point deficit to draw within 22-19 to start the second quarter on Gal's three-pointer.

In that streak, commencing with two minutes left in the first period, Hashemi sank one of his threes from the left side, Jacob Duffy hit one of two free throws after being fouled on a shot off an inbounds play, Behzad followed with a trey from the right baseline this time for 16-12, and Duffy scored again on a driving layup.

After Hashemi hit a nifty turnaround jump shot, La Jolla ended the first quarter only trailing by six, almost halving the earlier 11-point CCA advantage.

Meanwhile, while the well-coached Vikings handled much of the press well, Acosta, especially, was making them pay at the other end with his pull-up jumpers. He canned two from beyond the arc along with a two-point field goal in the first period. He added threes in the second and third quarters while the game was still being contested.

Elsom, another talented player the Vikings have been pestered by the past two weeks in the Grossmont tourney--which has not been kind to them--inflicted his own damage with three baskets in the opening quarter, two more in the second. CCA led 44-37 at halftime.

It was good to see Ohara back in double figures. But after the initial tournament of the year, in which he garnered Player of the Tournament laurels, opposing defenses have caught on to his slashing drives, blocking his favored move to his right. Jacob continues to hit free throws consistently, which is a strength--he was four-for-four Friday night--and he is still playing his role in the Vikings' team defense and half-court offense.