The La Jolla Vikings boys’ basketball team claimed the San Diego Section Division III CIF basketball championship last Friday afternoon at San Diego State’s Cox Arena before an enthusiastic crowd of students and fans from both La Jolla and University City. The Vikings, 23-8 on the season and Western League champions with a 10-2 record, won the fourth CIF title in La Jolla boys basketball history.
After a closely-contested first half, the Vikings held a tight 27-25 lead behind the strong inside play of Peter Sefton, the hustle of Jerrell Agnew, who broke loose for a number of fast-break lay-ups, and the outside jump-shooting of Spencer Moyer. UC Centurion David Washington hit two 3-pointers on his way to 10 points at the half. Senior guard James Drogin, who would end the night with 12 points, also put in a strong performance for UC on both ends of the floor.
“Offensively, we wanted to pound the ball with our big center, Peter Sefton, establish the inside game, and then work our offense inside and outside, getting some open looks on the perimeter, which I thought we did very well,” said LJHS coach Kamal Assaf.
In the second half, La Jolla’s relentless man-to-man defense began to take its toll on the Centurions. Sefton sealed off the basket and controlled the boards inside, Agnew and Moyer ran the floor and hawked the ball, and forward Matthew Jones swatted shots and led the fast break on his way to eight rebounds, six assists, three steals and three blocked shots.
While Sefton sat out a few times in the second half due to foul trouble and injuries to his eye and lip that required medical attention, seniors Samir Ramnabaja, Ja’Rodd Watson, sophomore Taylor Davis and junior center Tyler Heap pitched in with excellent defensive efforts.
“On defense, we wanted to pinch off University City’s guards, especially Hills, keep them out of the lane and make them shoot contested shots or have to pass it off,” Assaf said “Our success at doing this also sparked our transition game. Our front line guys rebounded and hit our fast guards up court for a number of breakaway lay-ups.”
The Vikings took a 44-37 lead into the fourth quarter and pulled away to the 65-57 win behind Agnew’s clutch 8-10 free throw shooting in the fourth quarter as UC fouled in desperation. Agnew, the speedy senior point guard, totaled 27 points on 8-14 shooting, many on lay-ups at the end of fine assists by his teammates. Sefton added five assists to his dominant inside scoring and rebounding. Moyer complimented his fellow seniors with 10 points, five steals, and five rebounds.
University City competed hard until the end behind Mark Hills’ 16 fourth-quarter points, but La Jolla’s balanced attack outscored them 22-20 and sealed the CIF Championship for the Vikings.
The Viking players swarmed the floor at the buzzer and the eight seniors and their teammates received a long ovation from the appreciative La Jolla crowd.
Coach Assaf, at the helm of the Viking basketball program for four years, has established a disciplined, hard-nosed defensive system at La Jolla. Assaf and his team earned his first career league and CIF titles.
“Our key to success this season is we’ve had eight seniors who’ve committed four years of hard work to help build a winning program, playing in spring, summer and fall leagues,” Assaf said. “Our four senior co-captains, Peter Sefton, Spencer Moyer, Jerrell Agnew and Matt Jones, have led the way, setting an example for others coming up in the program. All these hours together have helped produce a cohesive and winning unit.”
The Vikings hosted a first-round game in the boys basketball state tournament against La Canada on Tuesday, March 4 at LJHS and won, 55-50, to advance.
“I’m very proud of my coaching staff and the fine young men on this team for executing and giving a superb effort,” Assaf said.
” Thank you to parent Greg Jones. Dave Thomas also contributed to this report.