San Diego High School Basketball : La Jolla Gets Back in Control With Win, 55-51

Just as everything started slipping away, Coach Rick Eveleth got a grip on his La Jolla High School basketball team Tuesday afternoon and guided it to a 55-51 victory at Kearny.

The Vikings, who won the City Western League championship last season by playing Eveleth’s disciplined, controlled style, started this season 9-4 and appeared ready to defend their title.

But La Jolla lost three of its first five league games, playing out of control most of the time. Last week the Vikings lost by 21 points at home to Kearny and were beaten in overtime by last-place Mission Bay.

“We had to get back in control of our play,” Eveleth said.

La Jolla faced a tough team in fifth-ranked Kearny, 5-0 in league.

But La Jolla (3-3, 12-7) led most of the way. Kearny, still in control of the league race, is 5-1, 16-4.

“This is obviously a very big win for us,” Eveleth said. “Hopefully this will be the turning point for our season.”

John Williamson, Kearny’s 6-foot 2-inch center, turned his ankle in the first quarter Tuesday and was forced to sit out until the third quarter. Williamson, who averages 14 points a game, finished with only two and sat out the last four minutes.

More than his scoring, Kearny missed Williamson’s bulk inside. La Jolla took advantage and went inside to forward Adam Kleid, who finished with a team-leading 18 points. La Jolla center Dennis Doxey had a game-high 11 rebounds.

Kearny forward Randy Robinson scored a game-high 24 points.