Saturday, November 30, 2019
LJ FB: Game story
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| Viking receiver Makai Smith makes three yards on a pass from Jackson Stratton late in the second quarter. (Photos by Ed Piper) |
La Jolla wanted its offense to score early, to set a tone and to steady sophomore quarterback Jackson Stratton and his cohorts. An early score had worked against Brawley in the CIF semifinals, and Coach Tyler Roach wanted the same for the Division 3 final.
A touchdown came in the last minute of the first quarter: Stratton, who finished the semifinal thriller last week with seven straight completions, found Makai Smith with a 31-yard aerial on the left side of the end zone. Smith, who had run back the opening kickoff 91 yards the previous week to make a statement for his team, neared the goal line, calmly turned to look for the direction of the ball, and elevated.
Against two defenders marking him closely, the 6-foot sophomore came down with the ball, seemingly pulling it away from his rivals. He rolled over, then got up to show the ball for the officials to see that he, indeed, had secured it. The Vikings led, 7-0, after Devin Bale's kick.
Again, it was big-play Makai on La Jolla's first possession of the second half who ran over from two yards out and put the Vikings in a lead they would never relinquish, 14-10, with Bale's PAT.
After Bale's 39-yard field goal made it 17-10 with 4:31 left in the game, cornerback Alessandro Demoreno intercepted a Luke Durkin pass a little more than a minute later, and La Jolla was able to hold on for a heart-throbbing win to reverse the Falcons' 17-7 victory in week five of the season and take the school's first CIF title since 1993.
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| Junior Devin Bale punts the ball away to Scripps Ranch in the second half. |
"I try to keep a straight face (stay calm)," said Makai of his TD reception. "I look around, and try to catch the ball," is how he simplified it in words.
The vaunted Scripps Ranch defense, which Coach Marlon Gardinera has credited with the Falcons' success all season, stuffed running back Max Smith most of the game. But they had never faced the production of the other Smith, Makai, who sat out the first part of the season as a transfer and started late. Apparently, seeing him on video wasn't sufficient to devise schemes to counter his receiving and running moves.
Max, obviously in Scripps' sights, served as a kind of decoy for Makai, who was freed up for Stratton's passes and several carries. In the first quarter alone, Makai Smith had three catches for 62 yards and three rushes for nine yards.
A crowd of thousands supporting La Jolla at Devore Stadium, on Southwestern College's campus, competed with a larger Scripps Ranch rooting section on the home side of the stadium in drowning out opponents' signals. More than once, Stratton struggled in getting the play call from Roach on the sideline, as the Falcon fans raised a wall of noise during the 1 p.m. game.
Afterward, in the celebration, which included the trophy presentation to Roach on a platform at midfield, students, family, and friends lined the fence at the foot of the visitors stands to sing the Alma Mater, hug and kiss Viking players, take photos, and hobnob until stadium officials finally began moving the crowd to the exits.
It was unlike any other moment in the last 24 years for La Jolla football, since the school's last league football title in 1995, and five league championships in six years under Coach Dick "Hud" Huddleston. And really, undoubtedly, since 1993, the first of two straight years "Hud" took them to the CIF Finals, winning in '93 (falling in '94).
Stop, there's more. Roach will wait for word of their match-up in the Southern California Regionals, probably coming Sunday afternoon, Dec. 1. "It could be a home game," the flushed LJHS head coach said as the stadium celebration wound down. The game date can be Fri., Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m., or Sat., Dec. 7, at 6 p.m., likely versus a school from the Southern Section in Los Angeles/Orange County.
LJ FB: Back to where it started
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| The Viking defense awaits the hike in the second half. Linebackers Jack Wiese (far right) and Max Smith (to his right) stand ready. (Photo by Ed Piper) |
It started right here.
Here, at Devore Stadium on the campus of Southwestern College, where La Jolla's football team reached the 7-on-7 finals last summer before falling to a highly-touted Lincoln squad.
No one outside of Coach Tyler Roach's team thought much of it at the time. Winning in the summer isn't always repeated with late fall success under the glare of Friday Night Lights.
But on Sat., Nov. 30, the Vikings, with their fifth win in a row, the last three in the postseason, came full circle to nail down their school's first CIF championship since 1993 with an exciting 17-10 win over favored Scripps Ranch.
"I don't remember," said sophomore quarterback Jackson Stratton when asked the score of that summer league tilt before the game. In that Friday-Saturday event four months ago, the gunslinger under center began showing his potential on the varsity level.
The Viking defense, under Coordinator Charles Bussey, started to exhibit its stoutness.
And Diego Solis, who alternated as starting quarterback last season as a 10th-grader and who, by all accounts, looked to be this year's QB, began his transition to playmaker as a receiver and sometime running back on sweeps.
Looking back, all of this recent success defies what was expected lo, those months ago, in the heat of the summer.
But the seeds were sowed, first on an auxiliary field adjacent to the stadium, then on day two of the seven-on-seven tourney, the move to the big field for the final against the Hornets. Who would have thought it would grow to this?
LJ FB 17, Scripps Ranch 10 - CIF Championship - Division 3
"3 and 7, 3 and 7, 3 and 7," the La Jolla players chanted as they stood under the scoreboard at Devore Stadium at Southwestern College Saturday afternoon, Nov. 30.
The board above them showed "Falcons 10, Vikings 17" in the biggest rejoinder to the preseason forecast made for them by the local metropolitan newspaper back in August.
The Vikings had just upset undefeated and favored Scripps Ranch (now 12-1) in the Division 3 title game, employing their usual pattern of jolting defense combined with enough big plays to come from behind and win.
Only now, third-year Coach Tyler Roach's squad is doing it better and better. La Jolla (9-4) has now extended its end-of-season win streak to five games.
"0-4," one of the Vikings said a few minutes later as the team began to disperse across the field, some to the visitors side where a couple thousand fans, many in black and red, lined the fence at the bottom of the stands to cheer them.
That pair of numbers referred to the prediction for their Eastern League season, what with Morse and Christian, who both pommeled La Jolla last year, looming as conference foes. Max Smith, Jack Wiese, Dirk Germon, and company turned 0-4 on its head for a spotless 4-0 slate with a 20-19 shocker over the Christian Patriots Nov. 1, which now seems like a long time ago.
Another media prediction that grated was this: "They said we would only be able to stay with them (Scripps Ranch) for one quarter," shouted another Viking.
The reverse ended up being true, as the underdogs took the lead permanently midway through the third quarter and it was the Falcons who was forced to attempt three Hail Mary's in the end zone in the last two minutes in a desperate attempt to come back, down by seven.
Of course, Roach and his assistants used the 3-7, 0-4, and stay-with-them-one-quarter as bulletin board motivators all season, jacking up their overachievers who thought they had things figured out early in the season after a game three 28-14 win over Santa Fe Christian at home, but were humbled the next two weeks.
Scripps Ranch had not faced this version of the Vikings when they beat them 17-7 at Scripps in week five. In that one, La Jolla's offense was unable to score, the only points coming on Max Smith's 75-yard runback of a pick six off Falcon quarterback Luke Durkin.
Thursday, November 28, 2019
LJ g BB 13, Foothills Christian 61 - Season opener
By Ed Piper
La Jolla coach Darice Carnaje took a phone call from Foothills Christian coach Joey Turk, and the result was the first meeting between the two teams.
"They called me," asserted Carnaje before the Vikings' season opener at home Tues., Nov. 26.
"We had never played them," was the reason Turk, in his third year as Knights head coach, gave for making the call.
Maybe Carnaje had second thoughts after the game. But then again, in the past she has welcomed opponents that have provided a "wakeup call" for her girls, if that was needed.
Foothills, behind Turk's daughter, point guard Ellie Turks, pommeled its way to a 61-13 win over the inexperienced Vikings.
"She is one of the best players in the county," her father, not unbiased, claimed before the tipoff.
But, true to form, even after the hosts went down 15-0 in the first six minutes, and trailed 37-3 at halftime, Carnaje didn't opt for a running clock until the fourth quarter.
From her vantage point, at least her players were piling up game experience and minutes, even if the scoreboard wasn't kind.
"Most of our experienced players graduated last year," said the fourth-year coach, referring to Brooke Strowbridge, Kat Kurtchi, and other seniors on the 2018-2019 squad.
Caroline Palmer, an aggressive, go-to-the-ball type, and Sam Stark, a 5'8" front court player, were among the returners from last year's rotation.
The contest, against one of the county's top 25 teams, which went 25-7 last year when Ellie Turk averaged 24 points a game, 7.2 assists, 6.4 steals, 6.3 rebounds, and 3 blocks a game, really wasn't a fair match for the young La Jolla players.
They'll do better against programs more in their range, in games that are coming up.
Besides, the original purpose of interscholastic sports was healthy competition, not paths to college scholarships and possibly beyond. Anyone and everyone can play on this team.
It seemed for a while that Regina Cardenas, just over from the winning Viking field hockey team, would be the only team member to score.
The 5'3" guard made a 12-foot jump shot with 1:57 left in the opening quarter to break the 15-0 shutout.
The junior then canned the second of two free throws early in the second quarter for a 23-3 deficit. That was right after Turks made yet another steal and bucket at the other end, as Foothills' pressure was relentless.
Other Vikings eventually scored a rare basket here and there.
Just because the game was out of reach, the Knights, who also feature 6'0" front court player Arontxa (pronounced "aront-za") Fonseca, obviously weren't about to take their foot off the gas.
La Jolla coach Darice Carnaje took a phone call from Foothills Christian coach Joey Turk, and the result was the first meeting between the two teams.
"They called me," asserted Carnaje before the Vikings' season opener at home Tues., Nov. 26.
"We had never played them," was the reason Turk, in his third year as Knights head coach, gave for making the call.
Maybe Carnaje had second thoughts after the game. But then again, in the past she has welcomed opponents that have provided a "wakeup call" for her girls, if that was needed.
Foothills, behind Turk's daughter, point guard Ellie Turks, pommeled its way to a 61-13 win over the inexperienced Vikings.
"She is one of the best players in the county," her father, not unbiased, claimed before the tipoff.
But, true to form, even after the hosts went down 15-0 in the first six minutes, and trailed 37-3 at halftime, Carnaje didn't opt for a running clock until the fourth quarter.
From her vantage point, at least her players were piling up game experience and minutes, even if the scoreboard wasn't kind.
"Most of our experienced players graduated last year," said the fourth-year coach, referring to Brooke Strowbridge, Kat Kurtchi, and other seniors on the 2018-2019 squad.
Caroline Palmer, an aggressive, go-to-the-ball type, and Sam Stark, a 5'8" front court player, were among the returners from last year's rotation.
The contest, against one of the county's top 25 teams, which went 25-7 last year when Ellie Turk averaged 24 points a game, 7.2 assists, 6.4 steals, 6.3 rebounds, and 3 blocks a game, really wasn't a fair match for the young La Jolla players.
They'll do better against programs more in their range, in games that are coming up.
Besides, the original purpose of interscholastic sports was healthy competition, not paths to college scholarships and possibly beyond. Anyone and everyone can play on this team.
It seemed for a while that Regina Cardenas, just over from the winning Viking field hockey team, would be the only team member to score.
The 5'3" guard made a 12-foot jump shot with 1:57 left in the opening quarter to break the 15-0 shutout.
The junior then canned the second of two free throws early in the second quarter for a 23-3 deficit. That was right after Turks made yet another steal and bucket at the other end, as Foothills' pressure was relentless.
Other Vikings eventually scored a rare basket here and there.
Just because the game was out of reach, the Knights, who also feature 6'0" front court player Arontxa (pronounced "aront-za") Fonseca, obviously weren't about to take their foot off the gas.
LJ b BB 38, Country Day 71 - Madison tourney
By Ed Piper
Between waves of a cold Thanksgiving storm, Country Day rained--rather, down-poured--on La Jolla in a 71-38 thrashing that wasn't nearly that close Wed., Nov. 27, in the Madison Regional Rumble tournament.
The Torreys, who scored the first 10 points of the game, led 36-12 at halftime, even after inserting four subs at the start of the second quarter alongside floor general James Hapgood. LJCDS coach Ryan Meier's substitutes rotated in with the starters through the rest of the game.
It was the second time in the first three games in which Viking coach Paul Baranowski's young squad looked over-matched, at least part of the time.
In this outing, from the start, point guard Christian Gamboa, who scored 31 points in a narrow win over Madison two days before, Brennan Ross, a sophomore newcomer who added 18 in that contest, and their teammates were smothered by a stifling 2-3 zone defense that wouldn't even permit La Jolla's perimeter players to get off a clear shot.
The Vikings can't wait to get some relief from the arrival of Diego Solis, like Gamboa a returning starter, to share leadership. The besieged Gamboa, in the face of the Torreys' extreme pressure, which forced La Jolla's guards on offense out near the halfcourt line, managed only a free throw in the second period and no points in the fourth. He finished with 12 points.
Solis and Luke Brunette, a junior newcomer to the varsity who showed promise in summer league, will come over from football once the Viking football team completes its season. The possibility looms that the basketball team's frustration could be extended, if Coach Tyler Roach's footballers win the Division 3 championship Sat., Nov. 30. They would then play the following week in the state regionals.
Freshman Vincent Ricchiuti, in his best shooting performance of the young season, made four three-pointers for 12 points. Ross was limited to eight points.
Meanwhile, Hapgood and forward Sam Coleman, veterans of Country Day's Division 3 state championship last March, helped repeatedly victimize an overwhelmed Viking unit. Hapgood, whose twin brother transferred this year to play for La Costa Canyon, had 12 points. Sophomore Tate Smith led all scorers with 15. Coleman added 10, including a pair of threes that got his jubilant teammates up off the bench during the first quarter rout.
"He does everything," replied Meier after the game when asked about Hapgood's contribution. "It's one of those things...you don't see everything he does, (from) what you see in the Union-Tribune He gets deflections. He gets steals. The kid is a winner. If I could find the words, I'd use them.
"You saw it. The deflections, the steals. He sets everyone up."
Hapgood sported a 'fro with the top dyed a lighter yellowish color. "It'll grow out to there," said Meier, grinning, gesturing with his hands apart.
On Coleman, the coach said, "Coincidentally, you ask. We looked at film of Sam today. In our first possessions in our last game (an 82-53 win over Mira Mesa, which La Jolla lost to, 54-44), on our first offensive possession and on our first defensive position, (Sam) did everything we ask players to do. He's a coachable player."
Asked what those things are, Meier explained, "We want to see a lot of off-ball action on offense. Defensively, we want to see off-ball work, too.
"He's the guard in the middle (in the back of the 2-3 zone). We want him to communicate. He does that because he's in the middle of the back and he sees everything. He's a great communicator."
Hapgood's and Coleman's leadership have Country Day waiting on the result of the St. Augustine-Mission Hills game Fri., Nov. 29, to see if the Torreys play in the tournament championship against already-qualified Christian Saturday. Either Country Day or the Saints-Mission Hills winner advances, determined by the fewest points allowed through pool play.
Between waves of a cold Thanksgiving storm, Country Day rained--rather, down-poured--on La Jolla in a 71-38 thrashing that wasn't nearly that close Wed., Nov. 27, in the Madison Regional Rumble tournament.
The Torreys, who scored the first 10 points of the game, led 36-12 at halftime, even after inserting four subs at the start of the second quarter alongside floor general James Hapgood. LJCDS coach Ryan Meier's substitutes rotated in with the starters through the rest of the game.
It was the second time in the first three games in which Viking coach Paul Baranowski's young squad looked over-matched, at least part of the time.
In this outing, from the start, point guard Christian Gamboa, who scored 31 points in a narrow win over Madison two days before, Brennan Ross, a sophomore newcomer who added 18 in that contest, and their teammates were smothered by a stifling 2-3 zone defense that wouldn't even permit La Jolla's perimeter players to get off a clear shot.
The Vikings can't wait to get some relief from the arrival of Diego Solis, like Gamboa a returning starter, to share leadership. The besieged Gamboa, in the face of the Torreys' extreme pressure, which forced La Jolla's guards on offense out near the halfcourt line, managed only a free throw in the second period and no points in the fourth. He finished with 12 points.
Solis and Luke Brunette, a junior newcomer to the varsity who showed promise in summer league, will come over from football once the Viking football team completes its season. The possibility looms that the basketball team's frustration could be extended, if Coach Tyler Roach's footballers win the Division 3 championship Sat., Nov. 30. They would then play the following week in the state regionals.
Freshman Vincent Ricchiuti, in his best shooting performance of the young season, made four three-pointers for 12 points. Ross was limited to eight points.
Meanwhile, Hapgood and forward Sam Coleman, veterans of Country Day's Division 3 state championship last March, helped repeatedly victimize an overwhelmed Viking unit. Hapgood, whose twin brother transferred this year to play for La Costa Canyon, had 12 points. Sophomore Tate Smith led all scorers with 15. Coleman added 10, including a pair of threes that got his jubilant teammates up off the bench during the first quarter rout.
"He does everything," replied Meier after the game when asked about Hapgood's contribution. "It's one of those things...you don't see everything he does, (from) what you see in the Union-Tribune He gets deflections. He gets steals. The kid is a winner. If I could find the words, I'd use them.
"You saw it. The deflections, the steals. He sets everyone up."
Hapgood sported a 'fro with the top dyed a lighter yellowish color. "It'll grow out to there," said Meier, grinning, gesturing with his hands apart.
On Coleman, the coach said, "Coincidentally, you ask. We looked at film of Sam today. In our first possessions in our last game (an 82-53 win over Mira Mesa, which La Jolla lost to, 54-44), on our first offensive possession and on our first defensive position, (Sam) did everything we ask players to do. He's a coachable player."
Asked what those things are, Meier explained, "We want to see a lot of off-ball action on offense. Defensively, we want to see off-ball work, too.
"He's the guard in the middle (in the back of the 2-3 zone). We want him to communicate. He does that because he's in the middle of the back and he sees everything. He's a great communicator."
Hapgood's and Coleman's leadership have Country Day waiting on the result of the St. Augustine-Mission Hills game Fri., Nov. 29, to see if the Torreys play in the tournament championship against already-qualified Christian Saturday. Either Country Day or the Saints-Mission Hills winner advances, determined by the fewest points allowed through pool play.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
LJ b BB 67, Madison 65 - Madison tourney
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| The Vikings watch the end of the Regional Rumble game preceding theirs at Madison High. (Photo by Ed Piper) |
Christian Gamboa happened to the Madison Warhawks Mon., Nov. 25.
Gamboa, the junior point guard for La Jolla, playing without fellow returners Max Raulston and Diego Solis, started along with four newcomers to Coach Paul Baranowski's varsity.
The off-the-dribble specialist, who has honed his main offensive weapon into what can be a sharp edge, used it to cut incisions in opposing coach Mike Stutz's defense--slicing and dicing the Hawks in their own tournament for 31 points.
From the start, when the 6'2" combo guard hit his first three attempt, it looked like this early-season tournament game could be different from the Vikings' effort in their opener two days before.
In that one, the entire team made only one three-pointer, that by sophomore newbie Brennan Ross, in a 10-point loss to Mira Mesa.
Here, in the first minute, Gamboa doubled the squad's trey output of the previous contest, with sidekick Ross, a 5'9" shooter, having just canned his own shot from beyond the arc on La Jolla's first trip down the court. The Vikings led, 6-2.
With the junior producing just shy of half their points, including another three and about a zillion drives to the basket with free throws attached, Baranowski's new edition pulled out a 67-65 comeback win.
The young Vikings are 1-1 on the season.
Actually, the game didn't just reduce down to the stellar guard's individual performance.
For one, Ross, still learning his ropes in taking care of the ball, added 18 points in a solid contribution.
For another, the true storyline saw La Jolla, seemingly sailing along well in the second quarter with a 28-25 lead, then proceed to be outscored by a scrappy tournament host team 23-3 over the next eight minutes, encompassing the end of the second and the first half of the third period.
It was a mini-game within the game, with only freshman Vincent Ricchiuti's three-pointer stemming the profuse bleeding to trail Madison 48-34 with just over four minutes left in the half. It was one of two baskets beyond the arc for the 6'4" Ricchiuti.
The next mini-game immediately followed, as the Vikings put together a streak of 30-12 to come back to gain a temporary lead, 61-60, with just under four minutes left in the game.
During that streak, junior Daniel Dessert scored on a layup. Ricchiuti's other three-bomb came at 54-53, Madison narrowly leading.
Sophomore James Hanson put in a layup for two of his four points and another temporary La Jolla lead, 59-57.
Meanwhile, Madison's Quinten Vella was amassing his 18 hard-earned points, presenting a challenge for La Jolla's ability to get back on defense.
The Vikings didn't have the luxury of 6'2" Raulston's rebounding ability, as he was reportedly out nursing a sore hip. And they can only savor Solis and Luke Brunette, both on the football team, being able to join the roster after Saturday's CIF championship game. Solis will provide the bulk of the ball-handling, along with Gamboa. The two juniors sat with their teammates on the LJHS bench during the game.
The real drama unfolded in the closing minutes. After the Vikings tied the game 60-60 on Ross' free throw, their first lead since the second quarter, Gamboa was tied up on a patented drive down the middle of the paint. The possession arrow, unfortunately, pointed to the Warhawks.
After Vella's three, Christian drove for an incisive layup. Stutz called timeout for Madison. Game tied, 63-63.
Stutz then went off, and apparently threw something, incurring a technical foul, which Ross calmly deposited for the one-point advantage.
Gamboa, with all eyes on him, then scored again. 66-63. This time Baranowski called a timeout. The Vikes lost the ball coming out of the timeout, but Gamboa made a super block on the Warhawks' Dorien Williams.
After the athletic Vella victimized La Jolla again for a 66-65 Madison lead, point guard James Kerzic fell to the floor and traveling was called, thus negating a rebound off Vella's missed free throw.
Madison again called a timeout with 38 seconds left.
Another Warhawk turnover afforded the Vikings an inbounds play. Gamboa was fouled with 20 ticks left. He missed the first end of a one-and-one.
Stutz again used a timeout.
With five seconds on the clock, La Jolla's good defensive pressure forced a bad pass that went off a Madison player out of bounds.
Leading only by one, Baranowski's team had to get through the final seconds. Dessert, playing only his second varsity game, canned the biggest free throw of his life, making the second of two free throws with La Jolla now in the double bonus due to Madison's 10 fouls.
The lead was two. After yet another timeout, the hosts' attempt to move the ball the length of the court for a shot attempt fell short as time expired, and the Vikings took home their first win of the young season, 67-65.
Gamboa, who handled the ball for La Jolla in much or most of crunch time, had his most Cirque de Soleil move on an artful drive from the left baseline. The wiry guard with long reach, against defenders, contorted his body as he launched toward the hoop, his arm outstretched with the ball.
It marked one of the few times the junior wasn't fouled by a harassing Madison defense. The move represented the most dramatic of many forays into the paint, often the 6'2" player ending up sprawled on the floor after the shot.
The Vikings play their final game of the Regional Rumble Wed., Nov. 27, against La Jolla Country Day, at 7:30 p.m. in the Madison gym. They will then take off the long Thanksgiving weekend before returning to classes next week and entrance in the Hilltop tournament a week from Friday, Dec. 6.
At the game, Solis was no longer wearing the sling on his left arm that he wore Saturday. He said his arm was "fine", though a little sore, as he munched on food at the top of the stands before the game.
Nobody wants him hurt, because he missed part of the last season after a football injury. Then, football teammate Evan Brown, also recovering from a fractured collarbone, fell and re-broke his clavicle in the first minute of play. That put a scare in Solis and his older brother Gabe, who both had suffered collarbone breaks as well during the football season.
The Solis brothers, viewing Brown's re-injury, reassessed before being activated for basketball subsequent to that.
Diego Solis will provide offense, along with his ball-handling abilities, when he becomes active.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
LJ b BB 44, Mira Mesa 54 - Madison tourney - Season opener
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| During a timeout, Vikings coach Paul Baranowski demonstrates "get a hand up" on defense to his new, young squad. (Photo by Ed Piper) |
Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. -- coach's aphorism
By Ed Piper
Well, the journey of La Jolla's basketball team this year, called the 2019-2020 season, has begun.
The Vikings, young, young, young--did I say young?--played their opening game against Mira Mesa Sat., Nov. 23, in the Regional Rumble, Madison's annual tournament.
Led by returning starters Christian Gamboa, at point guard, and Max Raulston, the high-jumping forward, Coach Paul Baranowski's new squad began well. The Vikings jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead, with a layup by Gamboa and two baskets by Raulston.
All were inside, and that was a continuing theme. The junior Gamboa's field goal came on a feed from a driving Max, who dished off.
La Jolla led 13-9 at one point, finishing the first quarter leading 13-11.
From there, the tables turned, and the Vikings trailed and had to try to play catch-up the rest of the game, which didn't work this time. The final score was Mira Mesa 54, La Jolla 44.
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| Returning starter Christian Gamboa, a junior, played point guard and led all scorers with 17 points. |
After taking their first lead at 16-15 early in the second quarter, the Marauders led by nine at 26-17, also in the third quarter, 33-24.
Gamboa and Raulston provided key baskets as La Jolla fought to close the gap.
The Vikings closed to within three, 34-31, late in the third period on freshman Vincent Ricchiuti's jumper. But down the stretch, as La Jolla failed to sink crucial free throws (11 for 28 on the game), and the Marauders built a 50-40 lead, insurmountable under the circumstances.
Mira Mesa senior Said Salim bombed from the outside, scoring 16 points. The Marauders didn't look all that polished in their opening effort, either. But they did distribute scoring around Salim, with six players contributing from eight down to three points each.
Sophomore Brennan Ross and Ricchiuti, both who started in summer league, are partly there to provide some firepower from outside. Ross hit a three and a two-pointer in the first period, totaling six points for the afternoon.
Cole Black, a 6'2" member of Coach Tom Atwell's rotation in water polo, made three of four free throws.
Gamboa led all scorers with 17 points, but was only 5 of 14 at the charity stripe. Raulston scored 10, all in the first three quarters, the only other Viking in double figures.
Diego Solis, the third member of La Jolla's returning "big three", watched the fourth quarter wearing a sling on his left arm. He's still playing for the football team, which meets Scripps Ranch in the Division 3 final Sat., Nov. 30.
After the game, his mother, Sandy, said, "He will be fine" for the football championship game. She said he injured his arm--Diego is a lefty--prior to his touchdown reception as time ran out Friday against Brawley in the semifinals. Coach Tyler Roach then went for the two-point conversion, and La Jolla won, 15-14.
Baranowski's team continues in the Madison tournament with a game Mon., Nov. 25, at 10:30 a.m. against the tournament hosts, then Wed., Nov. 27, at 7:30 p.m. against a challenging La Jolla Country Day squad.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
LJ FB 15, Brawley 14 - Division 3 Semifinals
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| After Luke Brunette's catch from Jackson Stratton for a two-point conversion, La Jolla students mob him in the south end zone. The catch sent the Vikings into next week's Division 3 Finals. (Photos by Ed Piper) |
La Jolla coach Tyler Roach faced a dilemma. Time had run out on the scoreboard clock, as receiver Diego Solis scored a touchdown to bring the Vikings within 14-13 of visiting Brawley.
Should he go for the safe option, a point-after-touchdown kick by Devin Bale, that would tie the game and send it into overtime in the Division 3 semifinal game? Or go for broke, and try for a two-point conversion to win a place in the CIF Finals then and there?
"We were on the headphones," recounted Roach, in his third year heading La Jolla's football program. "I asked our Defensive Coordinator, Charles Bussey, up in the booth, what we should do. He said, 'That's your decision, but we'll be with you whatever you decide.'"
Said Roach, "We had the momentum. If we go into overtime, Brawley has time to regroup." Also, running back Max Smith was banged up, so that was another reason not to play it safe and go for overtime.
The head coach sent the offense out, not the kicker. Quarterback Jackson Stratton had struggled the whole game but led the last-minute march from midfield. The sophomore QB, playing the biggest game of his life, found receiver Luke Brunette open in the middle of the end zone for two points. The entire Viking student body streamed out of the stands onto the field for a wild celebration.
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| Brunette, a 5'10", 155-pound junior receiver, in a calmer moment after the flash mob celebration. |
Brunette, with his most important reception, was at the center of the throbbing maelstrom as team members and classmates jumped up and down in elation.
The Edwards Stadium scoreboard, oddly, stayed at "13-14" for the score above the flash mob in the south end zone, the scoreboard operator obviously preoccupied with celebrating with all the rest of the LJHS faithful.
The Viking football team has not reached the CIF Finals since 1993-1994. In 1993, Coach Dick "Hud" Huddleston's squad won the Division 3 title by beating St. Augustine. The following year, they lost in the D3 championship game to "Uni", USDHS, which is now Cathedral Catholic.
This was in the middle of Hud's incredible streak of coaching La Jolla to five Western League titles in six years, 1990-1995--also his first years as head coach.
Roach's squad plays undefeated Scripps Ranch, which beat the Vikings earlier in the season, on Sat., Nov. 30, at Southwestern College at 1 p.m. This will be for the Division 3 championship.
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| Viking players exult, after the traditional PPR interview with the hero of the moment (Brunette) and his teammates. |
Who would have thought, when La Jolla (8-4) got the ball back with 51 seconds left, down 14-7 after the Wildcats scored the go-ahead TD on two-way workhorse Blake Krigbaum's one-yard plunge earlier in the fourth quarter, that they could score and win the game in regulation, if at all?
La Jolla's Makai Smith, only a sophomore, electrified the home crowd by taking the game's opening kickoff back 91 yards for a touchdown--the first time this reporter has ever seen that in his 16 years covering the Vikings.
The Wildcats, under quarterback Ethan Gutierrez, a surprisingly poised 14-year-old freshman, answered with a score five minutes later. The QB took a keeper 15 yards to the right flag for the TD.
Then the two bruising, physical teams settled in for an awful siege over the next two and a half quarters. There were turnovers, and play wasn't always exciting. But the stakes were high. Brawley had brought in two large luxury coaches full of vocal fans the two-plus hours from the El Centro suburb, and they were visible in the visiting stands as they made themselves known.
It looked like Coach Jon Self's squad had the title game spot in hand after Krigbaum's TD with 5:54 left. But after the heroics of Stratton, Solis, and Brunette to snatch the game away, the aluminum bleachers fell silent. The Imperial Valley fans, clad in powder blue and gold school colors, filed noiselessly down the aisles as the La Jolla celebration erupted on the field.
Friday, November 22, 2019
Prep b BB: Sierra Canyon 91, Montgomery 44 - Aztec Tipoff
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| Terren Frank, 6'7" star for Sierra Canyon, headed for Division 1 college play next year, shoots a free throw in the second quarter against Montgomery. (Photos by Ed Piper) |
Sierra Canyon, the number-three ranked high school team in America, downed host Montgomery, 91-44, on the opening night of the Aztec Tip-off in San Ysidro Thurs., Nov. 21.
I have a few observations of the Trailblazers' traveling road show, which was broadcast on ESPN3:
--Bronny James, LeBron James' son, a 6'2" freshman guard, already is a well-developed basketball player in all phases of the game. He showed the 2,000-person crowd packing the two-story Montgomery gym that he can shoot, pass, dribble, and move well.
He came into the game at the 2:50 mark of the opening quarter. He promptly dropped the ball out of bounds for a turnover, then refused to give the ball up to a Montgomery defender next to him, walking away grasping the ball before giving it up to the referee. A little street attitude.
Sierra Canyon coach Andre Chevalier kept Bronny in the game to start the second period. He soon canned a three from the left elbow, the Blazers now up by 26.
--Dwayne Wade, the just-retired NBA great who came to watch his son, Zaire, a 6'2" senior guard, needs a helper to fend off the crowd. Wade was mobbed by cellphone-wielding fans at various times throughout the night, and no one kept them at bay.
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| Bronny James, the 6'2" son of LeBron James, during warm-ups. |
When Scottie Pippen, the NBA Hall-of-Famer, attended the Aztec Tip-off last year and viewed his own son, Scotty Jr., he brought a helper who quickly commanded the besieging fans to form a half-circle, take their photos, then go back to their seats. Order reigned.
But you could see from the beginning, after Wade, donning a bright-yellow knit cap--who knows why? It just made him stand out even more--entered the gym with 5:25 on the clock in the first quarter, Sierra Canyon already leading the tiny Aztecs 10-2, that there was no plan to deal with the adoring public. Poor guy.
--The game was one of three this week, all at 8 p.m. (St. Augustine Fri., Cathedral Catholic Sat.), that are a San Diego basketball fan's treat this season. We won't be seeing another team of this caliber again. You'd have to drive to Temecula (Rancho Christian, to see Evan Mobley), or better, to L.A., to see players at this level.
--Chevalier's team brought waves of reserves, just as good as front-liners Terren Frank, Wade, and B.J. Boston, to swarm the frantic Montgomery players and take leads of 28-5 at the end of the first period, and 56-21 at halftime. Too bad Aztec coach Edward Martin didn't have graduated mini-guard Kyle Paranada, who was in attendance but unable to play. In last year's fest, the 5'8" shooter played the game of his life and provided some production on the hosts' side. This time, no one could.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
LJ g water polo: Official roster
Amy Jennings, La Jolla High girls water polo coach, released her official 2019-2020 team roster.
LA JOLLA HIGH GIRLS WATER POLO
ROSTER 2019-2010
No. Name Yr
1 Shauna Franke Sr
1A Roxy Hazuka Soph
2 Jenna Drobeck Soph
3 Lulu Hirschfield Soph
4 Stephanie Babcock Sr
5 Sophia Lynn Jr
6 Paige Olson Sr
7 Andrea Jackson Sr
8 Stella Chopskie Soph
9 Leia Brenneman Sr
10 Ava Kevorkian Sr
11 Natalie Dimeo Soph
12 Jade Espinosa Soph
13 Catalina Avchin Jr
14 Jessica Newell Sr
15 Ariela Stone Soph
LA JOLLA HIGH GIRLS WATER POLO
ROSTER 2019-2010
No. Name Yr
1 Shauna Franke Sr
1A Roxy Hazuka Soph
2 Jenna Drobeck Soph
3 Lulu Hirschfield Soph
4 Stephanie Babcock Sr
5 Sophia Lynn Jr
6 Paige Olson Sr
7 Andrea Jackson Sr
8 Stella Chopskie Soph
9 Leia Brenneman Sr
10 Ava Kevorkian Sr
11 Natalie Dimeo Soph
12 Jade Espinosa Soph
13 Catalina Avchin Jr
14 Jessica Newell Sr
15 Ariela Stone Soph
LJ FB: Official stats vs. Mater Dei Catholic
Official LJ FB Stats by Mike Wykoski
La Jolla 28, Mater Dei Catholic 14
Fri., Nov. 15, 2019
Edwards Stadium, La Jolla High campus
CIF Division 3 Quarterfinals
OFFENSE
Passing
Jackson Stratton 13-29, 153 yards; 1 TD; 0 interceptions; long 38 yards
Mater Dei (Raymond Romero) 12-26, 86 yards; 0 TD's; 4 interceptions; long 12 yards
Rushing
Max Smith 21 carries, 81 yards; 2 TD's; long 22 yards
Makai Smith 8 carries, 50 yards; long 11 yards
Diego Solis 1 carry, 46 yards; 1 TD
Jackson Stratton 2 carries, 5 yards; long 11 yards
M. Powers 1 carry, 4 yards
Mater Dei 33 carries, 144 yards; 1 TD; long 40 yards; 2 fumbles
Receiving
Diego Solis 5 receptions, 68 yards; long 38 yards
Max Smith 3 receptions, 40 yards; 1 TD; long 24 yards
Makai Smith 4 receptions, 36 yards; long 16 yards
Phillip Pacleb 1 reception, 9 yards
Mater Dei 12 receptions, 86 yards; long 12 yards
DEFENSE
Tackles
Jack Wiese 6 solos, 8 assists = 14 total; 2 TFL
Max Smith 6 solos, 1 assist = 7 total; 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 fumble recovery
Calvin Hyytinen 5 solos, 1 assist = 6 total; 1 fumble recovery
Luke Brunette 3 solos, 2 assits = 5 total; 1 interception
LT Shimp 1 solo, 4 assists = 5 total; 2 interceptions
Finn Rice 2 solos, 2 assists = 4 total
Diego Cortes 4 assists
Salvatore Sardina 2 solos, 1 assist = 3 total
Alessandro Demoreno 2 solos
Dirk Germon 2 asists
Grady Mitchell 1 solo, 4 assists = 5 total
Danny Molestina 1 solo, 1 assist = 2 total
Luke Levinson 1 solo
Devin Bale 1 solo
Carlos Ramirez 1 assist
Makai Smith 1 interception
TFL = tackle for loss
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicking
Devin Bale 2 PAT's - 2 points
Kickoff
Devin Bale 5 kickoffs - 198 yards; long 55 yards
Punting
Devin Bale 6 punts - 21 yards avg.; 1 inside the 20; long 34 yards
Kickoff Returns
Makai Smith 1 return - 18 yards avg.; long 18 yards
Finn Rice 2 returns - 8 yards avg.; long 16 yards
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter
MDC TD 6-yard run (kick) 0-7
2nd Quarter
LJ TD Max Smith 9-yard run (Devin Bale kick no good) 6-7
3rd Quarter
LJ TD Max Smith 6-yard run (Devin Bale kick) 13-7
4th Quarter
LJ TD Max Smith 8-yard pass from Jackson Stratton
(Max Smith run for 2-point conversion) 21-7
LJ TD Diego Solis 46-yard run (Devin Bale kick) 28-7
MDC TD Aiden Calvert 60-yard kickoff return (kick) 28-14
TEAM TOTALS
LJ MDC
Total plays 70 59
Total yards 338 230
Passing yards 153 86
Rushing yards 185 144
First downs 16 14
3rd down efficiency 7-15 47% 4-11 36%
4th down efficiency 0-1 0% 0-4 0%
Turnovers 0 6
Fumbles lost 0 2
Interceptions thrown 0 4
Penalties 6 0
Penalty yards 40 0
La Jolla 28, Mater Dei Catholic 14
Fri., Nov. 15, 2019
Edwards Stadium, La Jolla High campus
CIF Division 3 Quarterfinals
OFFENSE
Passing
Jackson Stratton 13-29, 153 yards; 1 TD; 0 interceptions; long 38 yards
Mater Dei (Raymond Romero) 12-26, 86 yards; 0 TD's; 4 interceptions; long 12 yards
Rushing
Max Smith 21 carries, 81 yards; 2 TD's; long 22 yards
Makai Smith 8 carries, 50 yards; long 11 yards
Diego Solis 1 carry, 46 yards; 1 TD
Jackson Stratton 2 carries, 5 yards; long 11 yards
M. Powers 1 carry, 4 yards
Mater Dei 33 carries, 144 yards; 1 TD; long 40 yards; 2 fumbles
Receiving
Diego Solis 5 receptions, 68 yards; long 38 yards
Max Smith 3 receptions, 40 yards; 1 TD; long 24 yards
Makai Smith 4 receptions, 36 yards; long 16 yards
Phillip Pacleb 1 reception, 9 yards
Mater Dei 12 receptions, 86 yards; long 12 yards
DEFENSE
Tackles
Jack Wiese 6 solos, 8 assists = 14 total; 2 TFL
Max Smith 6 solos, 1 assist = 7 total; 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 fumble recovery
Calvin Hyytinen 5 solos, 1 assist = 6 total; 1 fumble recovery
Luke Brunette 3 solos, 2 assits = 5 total; 1 interception
LT Shimp 1 solo, 4 assists = 5 total; 2 interceptions
Finn Rice 2 solos, 2 assists = 4 total
Diego Cortes 4 assists
Salvatore Sardina 2 solos, 1 assist = 3 total
Alessandro Demoreno 2 solos
Dirk Germon 2 asists
Grady Mitchell 1 solo, 4 assists = 5 total
Danny Molestina 1 solo, 1 assist = 2 total
Luke Levinson 1 solo
Devin Bale 1 solo
Carlos Ramirez 1 assist
Makai Smith 1 interception
TFL = tackle for loss
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicking
Devin Bale 2 PAT's - 2 points
Kickoff
Devin Bale 5 kickoffs - 198 yards; long 55 yards
Punting
Devin Bale 6 punts - 21 yards avg.; 1 inside the 20; long 34 yards
Kickoff Returns
Makai Smith 1 return - 18 yards avg.; long 18 yards
Finn Rice 2 returns - 8 yards avg.; long 16 yards
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter
MDC TD 6-yard run (kick) 0-7
2nd Quarter
LJ TD Max Smith 9-yard run (Devin Bale kick no good) 6-7
3rd Quarter
LJ TD Max Smith 6-yard run (Devin Bale kick) 13-7
4th Quarter
LJ TD Max Smith 8-yard pass from Jackson Stratton
(Max Smith run for 2-point conversion) 21-7
LJ TD Diego Solis 46-yard run (Devin Bale kick) 28-7
MDC TD Aiden Calvert 60-yard kickoff return (kick) 28-14
TEAM TOTALS
LJ MDC
Total plays 70 59
Total yards 338 230
Passing yards 153 86
Rushing yards 185 144
First downs 16 14
3rd down efficiency 7-15 47% 4-11 36%
4th down efficiency 0-1 0% 0-4 0%
Turnovers 0 6
Fumbles lost 0 2
Interceptions thrown 0 4
Penalties 6 0
Penalty yards 40 0
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