LJ b BB: Aftermath

By Ed Piper

Coach Paul Baranowski inserted guard Diego Solis into the game at the 2:13 mark of the first quarter. The 5'7" freshman (he thinks he's taller) proceeded to slash, dash, and fly onto the Big Gym hardwood multiple times over the next 29 minutes and 47 seconds--at least, during the time that he was in the game over that span.

The tiny lefty repeatedly drove to the basket against much taller defenders from Lincoln and ended up on the floor a lot.

It was fun to watch, and the comparably tiny Viking student body section--not unusual for a weekday afternoon start--was enjoying it, holding up their giant cutouts of La Jolla players' faces.

Then, the younger Solis--whose older brother, Gabe, sizzled for the Viking football team in the fall as an acrobatic wide receiver--found himself at the free throw line with 3.3 seconds left in the pivotal role of having two free throws to help decide the game, knotted at 39-39.

He bounced the first a little off target, hitting on the rim and bounding helplessly away.

It seemed, looking into his face from a chair at the corner of the court, that he was, not flushed, but energized by the moment.

He cleanly made the second.

La Jolla up, 40-39.

Solis said after the team circle in the corner of the gym, "It was very nerve-wracking."

The Hornet nearest the ball then leaped out of bounds and flung a pass toward midcourt, in front of the scorer's table.  But Jeff Harper Harris, Lincoln's coach, had already gotten the referee's attention near the other end of the floor, and called timeout.

There was a little gnashing of teeth by the visitors, because at one point, the green and white had led by as many as nine points. They had an eight-point lead with 4:08 left in the game, and the Vikings hadn't impressed too much--either this game, or in their loss to the Hornets at Lincoln High two weeks ago.

After the timeout, Harris' team had to go the full length of the court, and it was too much in 3.3 seconds.

"We just tried to get back and prevent the long pass, in case they tried it," was what senior Jacob Ohara, a mentor--if not by word, then by action--to the ninth-grade Solis, said.

Though wins have been as rare as cheap gas for his team lately, with only four wins in the last 14 games, Diego Solis already has a Google album full of memories this season. He has been in the team rotation since early in the season. He has played significant minutes, and been one of the first reserves off the bench for Baranowski.

It's got to be hard for his brother, who enjoyed such a breakout season on the football team. Gabe was the go-to receiver for Tyler Roach's squad, getting open over the middle when others couldn't and leaping for spectacular grabs several times throughout the season.

A back injury suffered in the final playoff game was slow to heal, and after trying to transition immediately to the basketball team with his brother, and the pain lingering, Gabe had to sit out. That set him back to the point where he wasn't getting the reps, and ended up not in Baranowski's rotation. When he did play spare minutes, his timing was off, just from the fact he hadn't handled a basketball since summer league.

Next year should be Gabe's year. But right now, Diego is having a heck of a time, and it's still good the two can travel to and from school and practice together. Like Diego said, "We ride together in my brother's car. I really enjoy it."

By Gabe's senior year next season, we should be seeing both the Solis brothers in the backcourt a lot.