By Ed Piper
La Jolla played well for 24 minutes. Unfortunately, as the old adage goes, you have to play a full 32 minutes, and the Vikings fell suddenly and drastically, 70-54, to a tall, talented Christian team Sat., Dec. 21, in their final game of the Grossmont Invitational.
This was a game of more than academic interest, because Coach Paul Baranowski's squad has to face the Patriots twice in Western League play in January and February (not to mention much-more skilled St. Augustine and Cathedral Catholic--but that's another story).
La Jolla began the fourth quarter tied with Christian, 43-43. Conceivably, the Little Team That Could, using only seven players in its rotation, would have been able to stay with the private school, which has 10 or more team members who can find their way around a basketball court.
But 6'2" forward Max Raulston, blocking shot after shot on the defensive end and following in missed shots against much taller Kobe Sanders, holding a four-inch height advantage at 6'6" (headed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo next year), and Patrick Roberts, towering at 6'9", would have had to stay out of foul trouble.
The sophomore didn't, exiting with five fouls 1:15 into the fourth quarter. At that point, the Vikings were still in the ball game, trailing 48-43.
But then with Raulston's presence in the middle missing, and a sudden inability by La Jolla to either inbound the ball after a Christian basket or to move the ball up court against the press, the roof fell in.
Sanders, one of two Kobe's on the visitors' squad, canned an arcing three for 51-43. Steals and layups quickly converted the score to 55-43, and the rout was on.
The final was 70-54, the deficit getting as bad as 19 points (68-49).
But the Vikings' second great effort in two nights was a thing of beauty before that.
A few members of the student body showed up on this vacation night, just a shadow of the social-media-induced attendance of a hundred or so the night before.
Christian Gamboa and Diego Solis gave them something to cheer about. As the intensity ratcheted up in the second and third quarters, students from the respective schools, seated near one another on the west side of the Big Gym, alternated shouting for their teams' heroes. It was a lot of fun. The game was captivating to watch.
Sanders, named after the Lakers' star of the 1990's and 2000's, spread his productivity evenly across all four quarters: 4, 5, 2, then 7 points by period for a total of 18 on the night.
Jace Tawhiao similarly fed the Patriot team effort, with 6, 3, 5, then 7 points for 21 to lead Christian.
The Vikings were obviously extending themselves to play to their opponents' level. It was energizing to watch. Solis' arrival from fall sports has seemed to fuel a revival and re-dedication to the season. Though the win total hasn't indicated it this week, La Jolla (dropping to 4-11) has turned the corner and is now a viable threat to win games against good opponents.
Unfortunately, Christian seemed too loaded with talent, what with a program that graduated 6'7" Jackson Larsen last year to play at Northern Arizona University this winter.
But the Vikings played their hearts out. Freshman Vincent Ricchiuti made some early three-pointers, at 11-11 late in the first quarter, then opening the second quarter to come within 20-17.
Sophomore Brennan Ross, rising to the occasion, also contributed from his guard spot. The 5'10" ball-handler sank a three during the Vikings' opening 8-2 run. He had one narrowly dip in and out trailing 33-32 in the third period.
But Raulston, as he was the night before in a 52-51 loss to Eastlake, was a revelation around the basket. During the torrid third quarter, he had two straight soaring putbacks down 43-41 and to tie at 43-all, one on a miss by Gamboa, the second by Solis.
Right before that, giving 6'6" Kobe Sanders fits, Max drew a foul by the bigger man on a shot on an inbounds play, and made one of two free throws.
Solis, too, still getting his feet after missing the first two weeks of the season in the football state championship, went up to the next floor on a soaring left-handed runner over the taller Patriots' big men for a 36-35 lead with 4:33 left in the third quarter.
But after 24 minutes of glory, playing even with the big boys, the Vikings couldn't sustain their success through the fourth quarter.
Behind Gamboa's 26 points, including 11of 13 free throws, to lead all scorers, Ricchiuti and Raulston each had nine. Diego finished with seven. Ross was the only other Viking to score, with his early three-pointer.
La Jolla now takes its annual Winter Break, until resuming play with a rivalry non-league game at University City Fri., Jan. 3.
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