LJ b BB 54, Mission Bay 51

The Vikings begin the second half, down by two,
by taking the ball out (Behzad Hashemi, background
right, dribbling upcourt). (Photos by Ed Piper)
 

By Ed Piper

The third time's a charm.

La Jolla's basketball team, having led St. Augustine late before losing by three points, then leading Cathedral Catholic in the Dons' gym by 20 in the second quarter before losing, finally nailed the coffin shut by holding onto a 54-51 win over Mission Bay Tues., Feb. 13.

The Vikings' upset victory over the number-three team in the county is the Buccaneers' sole loss in the Western League after 11 wins, severely disappointing a Senior Night crowd in the Bucs' gym in Pacific Beach.

La Jolla, after Charlie Gal sank a jump shot to tie the game 29-29 early in the third quarter, scored the next points of the period on Behzad Hashemi's 10-foot jumper three minutes later. The Vikings never gave up their lead, forging a six-point edge minutes later, then again at 47-41 with 3:30 remaining in the game.

But the final minutes were nervous time before the supportive home crowd, the visitors fighting for pride and to salvage a seesaw season now at 4-7 in league, 11-14 overall with their own Senior Night coming at LJHS Thursday night, Feb. 15.

The Bucs, with point guard Boogie Ellis pushing them hard, closed to within two on his pair of free throws with 1:08 left.

But then Viking guard Jacob Ohara, who had helped shadow Mission Bay's star scorer all night, stuffed Ellis' layup shot at 37.3 seconds on a drive down the middle of the lane.

The Buccaneers recognize their two seniors on
Senior Night before the game. (Coach Marshawn
Cherry is third from right.)

Teammate Nick Hulquist then canned two free throws with 22.3 on the clock, giving La Jolla a three-point lead. With all eyes on Ellis, the 6'2" guard was unable to get a clear three-point attempt off before the buzzer, and the Vikings took home their precious win.

Coach Paul Baranowski's team distributed the scoring: Gal had 13 points, Ohara and Hashemi 11 each, and Hulquist 10. Guard Quinn Rawdin added two three-pointers.

Ellis, a junior, led all scorers with 17 points. His season average is close to 25 points per game.

The latest upset provides a bookend to the Vikings' league schedule with their win in their first meeting with Cathedral Catholic at home Jan. 9, a 54-47 decision. Along with the team's championship in the Hilltop Invitational Tournament to commence the season in December, these are La Jolla's high points this winter.