LJ b BB 54, Cathedral Catholic 47

6'7" Obinna Anyanwu of
Cathedral Catholic, one of
the new big kids
on the block.
(Photos by Ed Piper)
 

"Winning covers a multitude of sins."
                             paraphrase of Holy Scripture


By Ed Piper

A win cures whatever ails you.

That seemed to be the feeling after La Jolla's boys, following a rough patch of seven losses in their last eight games, defeated taller and talented Cathedral Catholic in an upset of the first of the "giants" facing the Vikings in the Division 1 Western League, 54-47, Tues., Jan. 9.

It was Behzad Hashemi, La Jolla's playmaker and best threat from outside, who hit four straight baskets from beyond the arc in the first nine minutes and helped electrify a squad that had been trying to find its way after winning the Hilltop Invitational way back at the beginning of December.

The chemistry that has been the most combustible for Coach Paul Baranowski's team (now 1-2 in league, 7-8 overall), the interaction involving point guard Hashemi and backcourt mate Jacob Ohara, played out as the Dons failed to make adjustments and let Ohara slip behind the defense for transition baskets again and again.

The Vikings, who need to "value the ball", as senior guard Quinn Rawdin put it, nearly gave their slim lead away in the waning moments, as Hashemi had a traveling call, big man Charlie Gal was called for over-and-back, and other assorted sins against Cathedral's press.

But, as they did in December, in a streak that started the season with five wins in six games, the hosts did enough good things to win. And it lifted a whole air of high pressure that had building over the disciplined but struggling squad in the month of January.

"We knew they were a young team, so we tried to put pressure on them early," said Hashemi, who had not made more than three treys before in a varsity contest. He finished with 20 points.

Don coach Will Cunningham,
in his ninth year, before the game.

Cathedral coach Will Cunningham, prior to the game, emphasized the Dons' "trying to find our way", with three freshmen, including 6'7" Obinna Anyanwu swatting shots in the paint, in the starting lineup. "It's all new to us," said the ninth-year coach at the private school.

Anyanwu provided plenty of food for thought for the Vikings willing to venture into the lane, including Gal. Gal, as did his teammates, showed a renewed aggressiveness, as he worked his inside moves with his back to the basket from early in the game. It was Gal, at 6'5", who visibly frustrated Don 7-footer Brandon McCoy two years ago at Cathedral. Against Obinna, he scored a hard-earned 10 points.

Ohara slashed and slipped through the Dons' defense for 15 points. Junior forwards Evan Brown and Langston Aron, the latter in a more limited role, both at 6'2", entered the fray against the taller Anyanwu and 6'7" reserve Dillon Willhite. The two tall Dons are just freshmen. Thomas Notarainni, a starting freshman guard, was a potent force for Cathedral as they battled to overcome the Vikings' game-long lead.