LJ b BB: Post-mortem

LJHS coach Paul Baranowski talks with Quinn
Rawdin (2) and the rest of the team during a timeout
in the third quarter of a 75-47 win over Hilltop.
(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

What we learned from La Jolla High's 28-point win over host Hilltop Tues., Dec. 5:

--If Behzad Hashemi can hit from the outside, it will be a big help. The senior guard hit back-to-back threes in the fourth quarter against the Lancers, long after the game was in the refrigerator. That's a quick six points. Now, if he can do it consistently when the game is on the line, that will be a nugget. Against Helix three nights before, he went 1 for 11.

--Quinn Rawdin can make steals. He had five of them off Lancer guards.

--Charlie Gal, a post man only in his previous incarnation, may be building his resume as a legitimate outside shooter. He hit three shots beyond the arc in the Vikings' opener. He had one in three attempts Tuesday. He was blanked in six attempts against Helix in game number two.

--Newcomer Langston Aron, who must have plenty to contribute since Coach Paul Baranowski included him on the varsity roster, is an unknown quantity. I've never seen him play before Tuesday. He looked aggressive, played hard. He has been out with an injury, so dressing for the first time and making a game appearance means he's going to be rusty.

La Jolla needs help up front, with Gal the only starting forward at this point. Evan Brown, at 6'2", has played part-time. Otto Lenz is out with a toe injury. So anything Aron can lend will help.

In Tuesday's win over an over-matched Hilltop team, the coach moved Nick Hulmquist, a guard, around to play some under the basket. He's 6'4", so he can maneuver down there. We may see more of this to help with the dearth of front court players.

--Diego Solis, freshman guard, looks ready to contribute. Baranowski inserted him as a substitute with Langston Aron, another varsity newcomer, with 3:16 left in the second quarter, the Vikings leading by 28. (The lead ballooned to 36 later.)

The guard, listed at 5'9" (he seems shorter than that) looked comfortable. He didn't have a deer-in-the-headlights look, which is no surprise, since he also fit in comfortably with the varsity in spring and summer league play.

He seemed quick enough to stay with the much-faster pace of varsity ball as opposed to JV or freshman competition. The younger brother of Gabe Solis, who is out with a back injury he suffered in the Viking football team's last playoff game three weeks ago, is making quite a jump from eighth grade ball.

Diego said one of the things he is enjoying so far is "playing with my brother". That's pretty cool in the view of this writer, who similarly played throughout youth and high school sports with my older brother.

The younger Solis double-dribbled for a violation midway through the fourth quarter, when the two teams were in mop-up, the game long decided. Earlier, near the end of the third quarter, the lefty tried a three-pointer and missed. He followed with a turnover. These things are going to happen as he gets his feet weight as he gets more playing time. The coach wants him shooting and missing--that's not bad, it's just that player trying out what he does. The learning curve will be achieved.

Working backward, as one does, Diego missed a three earlier in the third period.

Where some of his characteristic game came out was on a drive to the basket with 3:22 on the clock in that same period. He didn't make the basket, but he felt poised enough to try it. In the second quarter, the freshman drove aggressively, which is good, but a defender was partly in the way and Diego tried to negotiate the way around him. He bumped the defender, who fell. It was a legitimate offensive foul, but with more playing experience he'll negotiate it more effectively.

--Jacob Duffy plays hard. He's intent. His right hand gets exposed sometimes, as he favors that side dribbling. Developing his left hand will help in the future. A couple of times Duffy passed either behind him (one time to Gal while leading the fast break in the second quarter) or next to him (later in the game). He'll have to adjust.

A key with Duffy is staying under control. He drove to the basket late in the game, and he looked under control, though he didn't make the basket. Another time he tried a layup and wasn't under control. This is when all subs were in, and the game was a little wild. He hot-dogged with a dribble behind his back, which looked totally out of place in the context.