LJ BB: Players' comments

La Jolla, in building its early lead over Mission Bay Feb. 17, limited its turnovers. The lead was crucial, because the Vikings were able to fend off the Bucs in the later going with Reed Farley playing with four fouls the second half partly because of the cushion they had enjoyed earlier.

"I think the biggest thing for us was only having eight turnovers against a team that last time forced 20-plus on us," said shooting guard Ladd Castellano.

Said Alex Pitrofsky, "It was really cool to have back-to-back buzzer-beater wins," referring to the win at University City Feb. 13.

"We all played good defense in stopping the other key players from scoring their usual 14 or so and we all played together," said senior guard Zach Duffy.

Both Reed Farley and Pitrofsky referred to Coach Paul Baranowski's comments to the team after the game that they stayed to the game plan. "We stuck to the plan and everyone did what they had to do," said Farley, who scored the winning basket with three seconds left.

"After the game, Coach told us that we did really well sticking to the plan," echoed Pitrofsky.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ b BB: Further analysis

Owen Porter (2) puts a hand up against

Bucs star Justin Moore in first quarter.

(Photo by Ed Piper0

Right after the Vikings took a 3-0 lead on their first possession, Mission Bay's 6'9" Armstrong Ojunkwu put up a shot underneath at the other end of the floor. It was important, because it was in the early going and the Bucs had so manhandled La Jolla in their previous meeting.

6'6" Alex Pitrofsky, not so tiny himself, contested the 220-pound Ojunkwu's shot, and Ojunkwu missed.

It made you think Pitrofsky could have an effect on the game. We can stand 6'6", but if we're relatively new to the game and haven't played that many good players, we can easily look at the other guy and think he's a tall tree compared to me--too tall for me to go up against.

Increasingly, you see signs that Alex thinks he belongs as this league schedule progresses. He followed up a miss to score shortly after his contest inside with Armstrong. Ojunkwu successfully scored over Pitro the next time.

But Alex didn't fold up shop and quit. He is young in the game, but he is willing to take the ball up inside. It might get blocked, but it also might not. A couple of minutes later he took a feed from Owen Porter and laid the ball up. The Vikings led 16-7.

A strength La Jolla has is that with Pitrofsky also comes Mark Rawdin, who is 6'5". He has shown a lot of improvement this year in his work around the basket. Fittingly, he scored the next basket for 18-7 with 2:40 still left in the first quarter. La Jolla was enjoying a nine-point lead over their former tormentors, who beat them by 19 points at Mission Bay two weeks previously.

Then the 6'9" Ojunkwu made himself known again by scoring over Rawdin. It was a seesaw quarter like that.

Ojunkwu finished with 15 points.

Only three players scored more than three points for the Bucs. Justin Moore, their star, pocketed 22 to lead all scorers.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ b BB: Mission Bay post-mortem

Viking guard Zach Duffy looks for pass in

LJHS's team offense during first quarter.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

La Jolla lost at Mission Bay in the first round of Western League play 63-44 in a dreary, low-attendance walk-through that took place in an almost-silent gym. The Vikings trailed 23-8 after one quarter.

In the rematch at La Jolla, the Vikes nearly reversed the score of the earlier contest in the early going as they stuck it to the Buccaneers with leads of 11-2, 18-7, and 21-9.

The hosts still managed to keep the air in the tires as things got sketchier with the Bucs waking up to the fact they were playing a whole different opponent than the earlier matchup. LJHS maintained a small lead of 38-32 early in the third quarter. The red and black even escaped the third quarter with a slim 45-40 lead. It portended for a great finish, which it was.

Which is all to say that La Jolla parents and students went home with big grins on their faces. The reign of terror (losing six of seven) was over, with back-to-back wins over league opponents University City and Mission Bay by a total of three points. If that doesn't make you enjoy the sport, nothing will.

Ladd Castellano fired in his usual 14 points on two three's and three field goals inside the arc.

Alex Pitrofsky looked willing to battle Mission Bay's big men, including 6'9" Armstrong Ojunkwu. Pitro plunked in four buckets spread over the first three quarters.

Wing Owen Porter went to the mat for the Vikings, bringing his lunch pail and eventually fouling out with 1:18 to go, the score 50-49, the Bucs leading.

In Coach Paul Baranowski's tight rotation, only three other players played besides Reed Farley: Mark Rawdin, with four points, Zach Duffy with two ("I don't make three-pointers anymore," he said jokingly before the second half), and Gaynor Blackmon, who did some ball-handling and played the final minute after Porter fouled out.

Farley finished with 21 points, including the game-winner with three seconds left for the 51-50 triumph.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ b BB 51, Mission Bay 50

Mark Rawdin (center) deals with

pressure from Mission Bay in

second quarter.

(Photo by Ed Piper

The legend grows.

Reed Farley drove the lane and lofted a looping shot that went in with three seconds left, and La Jolla upset visiting Mission Bay, 51-50, in Western League basketball Tues., Feb. 17.

The 6'4" point guard played virtually the entire second half with four fouls. Coach Paul Baranowski left Farley in the game after he committed his fourth foul just after the start of the second half. Somehow he avoided committing his fifth and final foul the rest of the game.

Behind Farley's three-point shooting and assured manner, the Vikings jumped out to an early lead.
On La Jolla's first possession, Reed didn't hesitate from three-point range on the right baseline and immediately sank his shot to put the Vikes up, 3-0.

He bounced his second long-range bomber in two minutes later for an 11-2 lead.

The third trey came a minute and a half later, the Vikings leading 14-7 before a pleased home crowd. That tidied things up pursuant to a 21-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.

After the Buccaneers' Justin Moore slammed a brief answer to Farley's heroics home early in the second quarter, Farley swerved in for a high-speed layup to break Mission Bay's pressure. LJHS had a 23-13 advantage.

Farley's final early three revived a La Jolla lead up to eight points, 28-20.

The Vikings, going into halftime leading 33-28, held the lead until Mission Bay tied at 48-48 with 3:53 left in the game. Mission Bay went up twice in the final moments before succumbing to the Viking guard's closer.

When the Vikings have Reed Farley, they have a chance to win. When they don't have him, they usually lose. Six of seven in the latter case until last Friday's win at University City.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ BB: BOTF#1

A UC student denizen in

USA-theme garb against

La Jolla.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

What the La Jolla High boys basketball team had to deal with at University City Thurs., Feb. 12, was part of a CIF San Diego Section event called "Battle of the Fans" (BOTF).

 

Jim Esterbrooks, an official on the staff of the CIF SDS office, attended the game and was busy evaluating UC's student crowd in a competition among four high schools.

 

For the Vikings before and during the narrow 65-63 win over the Centurions, the crowd was enormous and extremely loud.

 

But--in a change from the usual, dating back several years--no Viking was singled out for "Airball, airball" or other cheers aimed at one individual.

 

In some ways, despite the high volume of opposing crowd noise, the Vikes had it easy. How come? One of the rules of BOTF is guideline #1: "Focus on your school. Encourage and direct comments to your team only. Don't target individuals on the opposing team. Be loud, and be your team's '6th man'."

 

Esterbrooks, in fact, mentioned to a reporter that in his evaluation, he wanted student cheering sections mindful that there are other family members present--children and parents. So, to single out an opposing athlete and hammer them with a sarcastic cheer, "They wouldn't get my vote," said the former media liaison for the San Diego County Office of Education.

UC students, including my neighbor,

in "BOTF" competition.

 

 

There were basketball games at Scripps Ranch within memory when Falcon fans stood the entire game and verbally buried individual Vike players with withering chants. Unfortunately, a fight broke out at one game, and order had to be restored. That was several years ago, thankfully.

 

At other games, if an opposing crowd learned the first name of an individual player once a coach or teammate called it out, the student fans could be brutal with the sarcastic repetition of the player's name, over and over.

 

In a game this season, fans at one La Jolla game learned guard Gaynor Blackmon's name. They didn't hesitate to call out "Gaynor, Gaynor" repeatedly.

High schools in Michigan and Connectict carry on a similar positive-themed spirit competition among students.

 

Amanda Polcyn, a La Jolla High student attending the UC game, remarked on the "USA" theme the UC students chose for the game. "They picked that, but they didn't let us know," she said, so LJHS students who did attend the away game weren't dressed in any theme clothing or decorations.

 

The theme idea is part of the BOTF competition.

 

The positive aspect of the spirit competition can't be denied. It would be interesting, just as a thought, if a member of the U.S. military commented on students' use of American flags as clothing at the game. Traditionally, flag etiquette in the past included a ban on the use of American flags as clothing.

According to information on the CIF SDS website, this week was the last week for the four finalist high schools to show their spirit in the BOTF competition. Student leaders had to submit videos of their fan sections in action, as well as individual students recorded discussing their group's spirit.

Judging criteria included "positive sportsmanship, student body participation, school spirit, originality of cheers, organization of the group, student section leadership, overall impression/fun."

During pregame introductions of players, when UC students began the usually hooting at the mention of each opposing player, a leader on the floor in front of them put the quash on that by signaling with his hand to can the derision.

Number 11 on "12 Lessons for Success" directed to students is "Police yourself".

Vikes' Ladd Castellano (with ball)

before huge BOTF crowd cheering for UC.

Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ g BB 29, UC 31

Captain Jenna Harmeyer went down with a twisted knee in the first quarter, but La Jolla's girls basketball team, made up almost exclusively of underclassmen outside of their senior leader, still came within three minutes of stealing a victory at rival University City and lost a nailbiter, 31-29, Thurs., Feb. 12.

Viking Coach Johnnie Horne said after the game that Jenna's injury didn't appear to be major. She stayed on the bench throughout the rest of the game to cheer on her teammates. Then, after the narrow loss and the home crowd for the boys game swelling to huge numbers, her teammates helped her hop on one leg through part of the crowd to the team meeting room at the back of the UC gym.

Post player Satori Roberson exerted herself underneath the basket and tore down numerous missed shots by the Centurions, dribbling down court several times.

The Vikings played their trademark harassing team defense of late. Freshman Rebecca Saul is a manic terror on defense in her pigtails and glasses. Abby Ward plays hard, and has grown leaps and bounds in her poise and tenaciousness.

"I thought it was great how hard they were working, and I was really proud of them," said Harmeyer. "It's always tough to play in front of a crowd that is cheering against you, but I thought they handled it very well."
La Jolla last led, 29-28, with 3:10 remaining in the game on Roberson's bucket inside.

LJHS had the ball with 4.8 seconds left, but could not convert.

The Vikes could not contain UC senior captain Brynne Williams easily. The athletic 5'7" guard repeatedly banged in jump shots from outside. Williams potted the go-ahead shot that ultimately won the game with 1:45 left in the fourth quarter, giving the Centurions a 30-29 lead.

Then, after three timeouts called by the opposing teams in waning minutes, Williams canned a free throw for a 31-29 edge, the final margin.

Horne had various players share in the ball-handling duties Harmeyer would usually handle. Saul was seen in that role a lot more. Ward was another.

Harmeyer, contacted by social media, said on the free day following the game via Facebook: "We aren't quite sure what has happened yet, but I'm going to see a specialist on Tuesday so I will know more then. So far they just diagnosed me with a knee sprain but the specialist will be able to tell me more." We hope a speedy recovery.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ b BB: "The Magnificent 7", kind of

Guard Zach Duffy keeps the ball moving

in the Vikings' offense in the first quarter.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

We're down to brass tacks now, as my dad, Ed Piper Sr., might have said.

Here on this long school weekend, we have time to sit back and relish the win last night (Feb. 12) over UC with the return of the full line-up for La Jolla's boys basketball team.

On a lucky Friday the 13th, we have time to reflect on the way it happened. The Vikings trailed going into the fourth quarter, 49-48, and came from behind in a close, lead-swapping contest.

The UC crowd would not be quiet, with the PPR camera going, but more importantly the Centurion fans' entrance in the "Battle of the Fans" competition against three other schools. CIF officials were in attendance evaluating them from the opposite side of the floor.

La Jolla didn't take the fans out of the competition. But the red and black did take the stuffing out of their noise.

How did they do it? With Coach Paul Baranowski's core of seven players he used in the league contest. Six, if you discount bigman Mark Rawdin's nine minutes. Five, if you discount Morgan Albers' 10 minutes.

The "Wizard of Westbourne" used Ladd Castellano, Owen Porter, Zach Duffy, Alex Pitrofsky, and, of course, Reed Farley on his first game back after a sprained ankle.

Dance with the one who brung ya. Something like that.

These five who played substantial minutes--in each case, 23 minutes or more (of the 32 game minutes)--brought you this far, so you stick with them. The equivalent minutes of three of the four quarters.

With the win so important, the number of games dwindling to the last three of the regular season, CIF seeding in play for Feb. 24, these are probably the key ones who we will see the most of in the final stretch.

Rawdin played well against St. Augustine. Match-ups can vary. Mission Bay has some tall folk. UC wasn't so tall.

Interestingly, Pitrofsky played all 32 minutes. He was clicking in the interplay between him and Farley, who got him the ball inside multiple times.

Duffy hit his trey of threes.

Porter, not noted previously, grabbed 10 rebounds, which is humongous.

Farley copped seven rebounds on the defensive end, Porter five. They had almost all of the defensive rebounds La Jolla recorded.

Mission Bay defeated Cathedral Catholic Thursday night while LJHS was edging UC. Cathedral has been on a roll recently, upsetting leader-board number-one St. Augustine. But the Saints would seem to be a lock for the Western League title with a week to go.

The Vikings have a chance to avenge their first-round losses to the Buccaneers and Dons next Tuesday and Friday. That should be a lot of fun.

It's too bad that more students didn't show up at the away game at UC. One, it was an away game, which is always problematic. But UC is a close-by rival. Look at the attendance at the game at Bishop's. Humongous. Two, there hadn't been the buzz around the team due to their recent losses playing a man down.

Tuesday's game at home against Mission Bay is a 5:15 start. Unfortunate for attendance. The late afternoon games always have lower attendance.

Friday's hosting the Dons should yield a good turnout. It's part of a girls varsity-boys varsity doubleheader. And the cheerleaders should be in attendance. That will raise the noise level.

Enjoy your Presidents Day Weekend.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper