By Ed Piper
Coach Darice Carnaje's Vikings showed more of the same fine play they've exhibited during the Eastern League schedule, earning a 6-4 record. But it wasn't enough, as the talent of private-school Christian High eventually broke down the floodgates and resulted in a 63-37 decision on Senior Night at La Jolla.
The Vikings led much of the first quarter against the recruited skill level of the Lady Patriots. In fact, with speedster Petra Eaton stealing the ball and scoring layups, the hosts still held a lead at 18-17 early in the second quarter.
Eaton, an outstanding hurdler and relay runner for the Viking track squad, hit a three-pointer for a 6-2 Viking lead after an initial three by teammate Brooke Strowbridge. Eaton, an identical twin, then stole the ball and got fouled on her shot at the other end of the floor. She made both free throws for an 8-5 edge. She followed with another transition basket for 10-5.
It was then that teammate Imani Trinadad-Gallagher, a fellow senior, took over to score on an assist from Strowbridge, who got a pass from Eaton. That ended the first quarter, with the red and black leading, 16-13. The fans in attendance, including family and classmates, were loud in support of their players.
Eaton, Trinadad-Gallagher, point guard Rebecca Saul and their senior teammates had walked through the Viking football tunnel with their families before the game in Senior Night ceremonies. The three have played together on the varsity for the past four years, three of those under Carnaje's coaching.
Imani hit a jumper early in the second quarter for La Jolla's last lead. From there, it got ugly, as Christian's athletes, sparked by 5'11" sophomore Simone James inside and junior Zoe Nordling, the latter on suicide drives inside at all costs, began to flow.
The Lady Patriots, from the East County school, proceeded to outscore the hosts in one stretch 33-12 through late in the third quarter to blow the game open.
To a high school sports reporter, the following dynamics seemed to be in play during the evening: the "PS rule", interacting with "RTTO". "PS" stands for private school: Christian, as a private institution, can draw athletes from all over the county with the lure of a free education at its school. Vickie Carrington, the Lady Patriots' coach, is the former coach and athletic director at Horizon, which closed last summer. The lady has winning teams for a reason: She (and her schools) draw (I am avoiding using the term "recruit") top athletes, and she trains them well.
The PS rule took a quarter to finally show itself. That was because the phenomenon called RTTO was in effect: Rising to the Occasion. The Viking players, aroused by the emotion and pomp of Senior Night, played their hearts out and it carried them to a lead into the second quarter. Does any of this make sense?
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