LJ b BB: Mission Bay recap

Boogie Ellis at the line for the Bucs
(Photo by Ed Piper)
 

By Ed Piper

Karen Wilson, Jett's mother, provided an insider's blow-by-blow during the first half of La Jolla's tilt at Mission Bay. Her son, a sparkplug for his new team, played club basketball under Buc coach Marshawn Cherry alongside Mission Bay star Boogie Ellis, who is at least five inches taller than Jett despite playing the same position, as well as other members of the top-ranked team.

"He's enjoying playing Boogie," a reporter said while sitting behind Coach Paul Baranowski and the La Jolla bench. "Yes, he is," Karen nodded in agreement.

"Ronnie (Latting), Jay (Norton), Savaughn (Davis)...", she ticked off the names of Jett's club teammates playing against him on this night, the crowd noise heightening the effect. Senior Andrea Scott was absent for undisclosed reasons.

What was noticeable was that neither team slackened its effort, even as the highly-ranked Bucs began to pull away, leading by nine points after two quarters, and 21 after three on the way to a 70-46 win.
Not even Cherry's team, though the lead wasn't in danger--he kept Ellis in until 1:52 was remaining, Mission Bay ahead 64-42.

There was a reason for that, according to Ellis.

"Everybody has something to say," he said outside the team room after the game, with the three-day rainstorm still evidenced by dark clouds overhead. "So if we don't win by 20, they say we're not a good team.

"Everybody has something to say," he reiterated. So, Mission Bay has to play all out to the end even in blowouts like this night.

On the team's progress after the first half of Western League play, St. Augustine in first place ahead of his team by virtue of its 64-55 win over the Bucs, the five-star guard said, "We're improving a lot in all areas. Our chemistry was a little off, with league starting early (this year due to expanded state playoffs in all sports).

"We need to pick it up on defense and our running game."

Western League play ends February 8, with postseason playoffs and the Bucs' hopes to repeat as Open Division champions on the line. It will be difficult, as the Saints are playing well behind 6'6" junior Chibuzo Agbo.

Davis, the savvy junior guard, acknowledged his team was short-handed with Scott absent. "We just have to come and play hard. We're short-handed. Yes, it throws us off a little (not having Scott in the lineup), because he's such a key player. But we just have to focus and play hard."

The rain let up, but conditions at the Pacific Beach school were wet and dark as player and reporter spoke outside the team room after Cherry's postgame message had concluded.