By Ed Piper
La Jolla's boys gave Westview a Thanksgiving gift of a first win after two losses, as the Vikings (now 1-4) continued to seek their identity as a basketball team in the early days of the 2022-2023 season. They dropped a 57-36 decision to Coach Chase Fraser's Wolverines, their third loss in the Madison Regional Rumble and fourth in a row after an opening win at Fallbrook a week and a half ago.
The game wasn't quite as bad as the final score indicates. The Vikings just let things get out of hand later in the game, playing porous defense and throwing up some shots that didn't seem to work through the offense--just dribble, fire up a shot, and have it clang off the rim for another miss.
Coach Paul Baranowski's teams are known for being well-coached, so this is just a dismal time as Jackson Diehl, for one, transitions from the football season, and in general the squad gets to know one another and each's strengths.
The Thanksgiving Day break will be a welcome one, after this effort the day before the holiday and no school this whole week. Some bright spots included junior Elijah Vaz's unselfish play, as he did participate in the offense.
La Jolla went ahead, 14-13, on a nice layup by 6'6" Lance Braga in the offense to beat the buzzer at the end of the first quarter.
Unfortunately, the defense then proceeded to give up 10 straight points to Westview in the second quarter before Viking Logan Bonnett's free throw with 4:50 left. The score in Lincoln's nicely lighted gym, with a fabulous playing surface, jumped to a dismal 34-22 at halftime.
Things only seemed to get worse, as La Jolla trailed 48-30 by three quarters, and 21 at the final buzzer.
There's lots more basketball to be played this season, so the black-and-red (they wore black jerseys this time as the visitors) have growth and development to look forward to as we move through the Holidays toward Christmas.
No comments:
Post a Comment