LJ b BB: A second look

By Ed Piper

The Vikings' 54-51 upset of top-ten-ranked Mission Bay Feb. 13 was more than just a gratifying win for Coach Paul Baranowski's squad after facing adversity. The win was a shock to the Bucs and their fans, who were intent on celebrating Senior Night. With an 11-0 record and the Western League title in the bag, Coach Marshawn Cherry and his team were supposed to supply the automatic win to fill out the night's festivities.

La Jolla, which has struggled with holding leads after going ahead early, went out to a 9-2 lead in the first quarter--after a second pregame warm-up following Senior Night presentations--and two conversations had to be taking place in Viking fans' heads: This is it, we're going to take the win to the bank, or Oh, no, here we go again.

An advantage for the visitors was that, as has been the case more than once, Mission Bay, though ranked number three, looked vulnerable. They don't automatically play as a unit. And Jaymarree Norton, who terrorized the Vikings with his left-handed jumper in their first meeting, wasn't in the starting lineup. When he was inserted by Cherry, he could hardly hit the broad side of a barn.

The Vikings' 9-2 streak in the first 4:43 went this way: Junior Nick Hulmquist, coming more and more into his own (with his famous 'do of fluffy hair on top), drove and was fouled. He made two free throws.

Senior Jacob Ohara, who has victimized many La Jolla opponents this year, got downcourt quicker than anyone else and scored on a layup. 4-0.

After Buc leader Boogie Ellis missed a jump shot from the top of the key--Cherry had his team work through an offensive passing rotation several times on each of their possessions in the first quarter--senior Charlie Gal punched in a layup at the Vikings' end of the court. 6-0.

After 6'7" Ronnie Latting countered for Mission Bay, La Jolla's Quinn Rawdin hit the first of two shots from beyond the arc. 9-2, Vikings. 4:17 on the clock.

Baranowski's crew looked ready, quick, and focused. They weren't scared, like in their loss at St. Augustine. After all, in the first round La Jolla had played Mission Bay, then ranked number one in the county, to a close finish before falling.