LJ b BB 61, RBV 42

The Vikings' Charlie Gal (second from left)
represents La Jolla in the pregame
captains' meeting at center circle.
(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

It was a bumpy start to La Jolla's season. Behzad Hashemi, a starting guard, arrived late for the Vikings' pregame at the Hilltop Invitational Tournament Fri., Dec. 1., and was benched for the first half.

Meanwhile, with his roster decimated by injuries--three of his 11 roster players sidelined with injuries and sitting on the team bench in civilian clothes--Coach Paul Baranowski wasn't left with too many other options.

Despite these limitations, La Jolla played well, carrying a seven-point lead over Rancho Buena Vista through much of the game. But the Vikings trailed the Longhorns 41-39 with six minutes left.

Finally, after being inserted in the third quarter and getting untracked after some initial missteps, Hashemi hit a three that gave La Jolla the lead permanently.

That's something the 5'10" junior is expected to contribute to the Vikings this year: long-range bombing.

But it was also the quickness of Hashemi and fellow guard Jacob Ohara, who finished with 16 points, that helped chop up the RBV defense by scoring 17 straight points to win going away, 61-42.

Hashemi also scored on a drive inside at 52-41.

RBV coach Aaron Abrams switched his team to a man-to-man defense after employing a zone defense most of the game. With the Vikings' guards' lightning quickness, it was to the Longhorns' detriment.

Asked about his tentative start after entering the game in the second half, then hitting the go-ahead three, Behzad said, "The first game. It takes a while to get settled."

He acknowledged his first-half benching. "I got here late," he said wistfully, though the team celebrated their season-opening win.

Forward Charlie Gal added a new dimension to Baranowski's offense. The 6'6" senior, who represented the team in the pregame captains' meeting at center court, drilled a trio of three-pointers outside the arc and ended up with a team-leading 17 points on three of six treys.

Gal, formerly, was solely a pounder inside, shouldering his way for points under the basket.

The Vikings continue with play in the Hilltop Invitational Saturday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.