LJ b BB 58, Christian 69

From far right, Vikings Behzad Hashemi (3), Christian
Gamboa (with drink), and Max Raulston
listen to Coach Paul Baranowski during
team huddle between the first and
second quarters. (Photo by Ed Piper)
 

By Ed Piper

There was a night-and-day difference in the way Nick Hulquist, Behzad Hashemi, and their La Jolla teammates performed Sat., Nov. 17, against Christian High in contrast to their effort in their opening game two days before.

The Vikings trailed by a few points with time counting down for the second game in a row, and though it ended in a 69-58 loss in the San Diego Tip-off Challenge, the increased discipline and effectiveness portends well for Coach Paul Baranowski's squad.

With 6:24 to play, sophomore Christian Gamboa put back his second try and was fouled. He made the and-one free throw. That brought La Jolla to within 50-47.

The 6'2" forward showed even more determination on a drive and rebound of his own miss to score a short time later.

Senior Jacob Duffy hit a jumper and the underdog Vikings trailed only 56-51, with 4:26 left.

But Christian High, led by 6'7" Northern Arizona commit Jackson Larsen, was able to close out their second win of the season by the final 11-point margin.

Gamboa finished with 16. Hulquist had 13, Hashemi 12.

Larsen and junior guard Miles Williams, both very active, led all scorers with 23 points each for the Patriots. Freshman Vinny Signorelli added 14.

Jett Wilson has provided new "intensity", as Baranowski terms it, to the Viking squad. He played previously at Mira Mesa.

The 5'10" senior helped lead La Jolla against the Patriot press, making good, quick decisions to pass. He uses a powerful two-hand snap pass from the waist.

His aggressiveness is something Baranowski welcomes. Besides the added energy, it also led to Wilson's fouling out for the third game in a row.

La Jolla fell behind, 9-1 at the outset, as Larsen slammed home a dunk off an early turnover. But behind Hashemi's passing and Gamboa's movement, the Vikings battled back.

They were only behind 19-15 midway through the second quarter, before a foul by Duffy on Signorelli on a three-point attempt led to three straight free throws and a quick 10-point deficit.

Hashemi scored on a drive with 4:22 on the clock. Then forward Langston Aron converted one of two free throws to draw back within five.

Another bonehead foul on Signorelli's three attempt by Hulquist with 37 seconds left in the quarter resulted in another three free throws. 37-28, Christian High in the lead.

The biggest deficit the Vikings faced in the second half, before the conclusion, was eight points at 50-42 at the end of the third period.