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.
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