LJ b BB: Game story

The Vikings' Max Raulston (left foreground, in white
uniform) just finishes a drive to the basket
against Mission Bay in the first half.
The sophomore scored six points.
(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

La Jolla gave up 11 unanswered points through the first six minutes of the third quarter, after overcoming an early deficit and pulling close to visiting Mission Bay at halftime, as the Vikings, before a huge Friday night home crowd, succumbed 50-30 Jan. 17 in a Western League contest.

Coach Marshawn Cherry's Buccaneers jumped out to a 10-0 lead to open the game, which was marred by unsportsmanlike conduct. But the Vikings recovered, scoring their first points on Diego Solis's pair of free throws with almost four minutes gone in the game.

"Once Mission Bay applied the press, they couldn't handle it," said an observer of the third quarter blitz that sealed La Jolla's defeat.

It was hoped, going into the game, that the Vikings would be able to play the young Buc squad competitively. Coach Paul Baranowski's team (now 0-2 in league) handled El Capitan decisively Jan. 6 and beat a good Mission Hills team Jan. 8--both non-league encounters on the road--the previous week. Despite a 42-point thrashing by third-ranked Cathedral Catholic Jan. 10, that result wasn't totally unexpected, given the Dons' depth and firepower.

But once again La Jolla's dependence on its three core players, with little help coming from outside that trio, left the short-handed Vikings unable to vie with Mission Bay's aggressive play when it really counted.

"We have to make sure Christian (Gamboa) doesn't get going," said Cherry before the game. The Bucs were successful in that regard. Gamboa, a 6'2" junior, usually scores 20 or more points to lead the Vikings' offense. This time, he was shut out in the first quarter, which ended 16-9. He was limited to three points in the second, three in the third, and five in the final period for a total of 11 points.

Buc players listen to Coach Marshawn Cherry
(out of view) in the huddle in the second
half. Guard Jaysten Ramos (number 2)
played a key role in beating the Vikings.

Forward Max Raulston mixed things up well with Mission Bay's front court, recording a crowd-pleasing block early. But he was only able to score three points in the first quarter, and three in the second, none after halftime.

The hard-working Solis scored 11 on the night.

The game was spoiled by bad behavior that even adminstrators couldn't control. Unconfirmed word was that a few days before the game, there was an incident at Kate Sessions Park in which a student's car was boxed in, then rocks were thrown.

In any case, with three minutes left in the third quarter, the Bucs' 11-0 blitz basically completed and a 31-19 lead for the visitors, the Mission Bay student rooting section chanted "F--- La Jolla" repeatedly. No administrator from either school was seen to attempt to stop the profane chant. No warning was announced over the public address system, which is the usual procedure in such cases.

When an individual went from the La Jolla side went over to the Mission Bay side to ask about the chant, the reply was, "Well, at least all the students stood for the National Anthem."

At the end of the game, after Mission Bay's 20-point win, Buc players walked out onto the court and, facing the La Jolla student rooting section, which wasn't without its poor behavior, raised their arms to gesture defiantly. The game was one of the worst sportmanship performances this reporter has seen in his 16 years covering LJHS sports.

Angelo Gil, a 6-foot freshman guard, and Jaysten Ramos, the Bucs' 5'7" sophomore point guard, each scored six points in the final quarter to secure the win. Each player hit four key free throws in the period.

Ramos led all scorers with 19 points on the night. Gil finished with 12 points.

The Vikings, unable to answer the call, will have to regroup for Western League games at Christian High Tues., Jan. 21, following the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Mon., Jan. 22, then at home against powerful St. Augustine Fri., Jan. 24.