LJ b BB game recap and team assessment

Junior Ryan Lancaster
(black jersey) drives in
on the baseline in the
first half July 13.
(Photos by Ed Piper)
 

By Ed Piper

The potential lineup for La Jolla High's varsity basketball team next winter is coming into more focus, based on Coach Paul Baranowski's roster and use of players during recent summer league play.

The Vikings have four returners. The rest of the roster is young and will be new to the varsity level.

As indicated during La Jolla's 53-44 loss to Rancho Bernardo in the first of two games at Grossmont High Sat., July 13, and games the previous two weekends at various team camps, here is one sportswriter's assessment of the squad:

Juniors Diego Solis and Christian Gamboa, the first a combo guard and the second playing mostly point guard, as well as sophomore Max Raulston, a forward, constitute the Vikings' three returning starters who will resume their spots next November.

Harry Kaseff, a 6'4" big man whose primary skill is shooting from the outside, is the fourth returner.

Baranowski has employed two young newcomers, 6'3" freshman Vincent Ricchiuti and 5'8" guard Brennan Ross, as starters. They provide outside shooting, plus developing ball-handling skills to complement Solis and Gamboa, the latter who was absent Saturday.

Two juniors, 5'10" Ryan Lancaster and now 5'10" Luke Brunette, who just came back from a broken hand sustained in spring football May 31, showed Saturday they can grow into reserve roles in the backcourt. Brunette, whom this reporter had not seen play basketball previously, didn't seem like varsity play was moving too fast for him--and Rancho Bernardo was relentless in applying pressure.

Sophomore Brennan Ross
works upcourt against
Rancho Bernardo
early in the game.

Juniors Deandre Vaz and Blaise Colburn have had cameos, so they could land spots on the roster come November 1.

Daniel Dessert, who was present July 6 in games at Canyon Crest Academy, could factor in. He was unable to be present Saturday.

That makes 11 players. Baranowski may carry 13 players or so. Senior Phillip Pacleb is a guard. Transfer Jared Knobloch, from University City High, is a junior forward. That might constitute the 13. Cole Black, present on previous weekends, is a 6'5" junior.

The Broncos bolted out to a 12-0 lead in the first half before La Jolla knew what had hit it. But the Vikings regained their footing and settled down to scratch back to a 22-21 lead at the half, their first advantage of the game coming on Raulston's layup off a set play Baranowski called in a timeout with 9.1 seconds left.

Rancho Bernardo, with more seasoned players, blitzed La Jolla early in the second half with 13 straight points to go away winning a 53-44 decision.

With Gamboa gone, Solis and Raulston provided much of the strength in the Vikings' comeback from being down 14-3 and 19-9. The Broncos, early in the first half, were able to score each time down the court, virtually at will.

Baranowski made adjustments. The Vikings got some baskets off pressure, including when a ball went up in the air, Solis, a defensive back as well as quarterback in football, going up and tipping the ball against an opponent, then streaking for the basket on a breakaway as a teammate launched him the ball. That particular sequence made the score 21-18.

In the second half, Rancho Bernardo had too much firepower. La Jolla was only able to whittle a 13-point lead down to as few as eight before succumbing.

Freshman newcomer Vincent Ricchiuti (right)
gets some counsel from Viking assistant coach
Jake Baranowski during halftime break.