HICKS LEADS UC TO VICTORY OVER VIKINGS

The University City (UC) Centurion men's basketball team defeated the La Jolla Vikings, 53-37, in a Western League game played at La Jolla High on Friday night, January 28.

Behind the performances of 6-foot-4 senior forwards Amir Hicks and Tim Patrick and 5-foot-9 senior guard Stephen Rivera, UC jumped out to a quick 7-4 lead and opened it up to 15-10 early in the second quarter.

By the time both battling ballclubs were heading into the locker room at halftime, the Centurions were enjoying a 21-13 cushion.

After the intermission, led by the play of 6-foot-5 senior forward Nick Reynolds, the Vikings outscored UC 18-6 to take a 31-27 advantage at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Patrick raced in for three dunks and Hicks hit 4-of-6 free throws from the charity stripe as the Centurions outscored La Jolla 26-6 down the stretch to pull away for the victory.

“When Tim (Patrick) dunks the ball the way he’s capable of doing, it gives the rest of our team the energy to pull through,” said Rivera. “And sometimes, there’s some trouble with free throws, but Amir (Hicks) was awesome in the clutch.”

Hicks finished with a game-high 18 points and 15 rebounds and Patrick added 14 points and 8 rebounds for UC. Meanwhile, all 12 of Rivera’s points came on four three-point field goals.

“I was just trying to make my shots,” said Rivera. “Luckily, they were falling in. My shot felt good. I have confidence in it.”

“We beat them (the Centurions), 37-35, at their place earlier in the season,” said Viking coach Kamal Assaf. “This time, we let the game get away from us. Hey, that’s life. We get to play again.”

For La Jolla, Reynolds tallied a team-high 11 points.

In a Western League women's contest played prior to the men's game, the UC Lady Centurions were victorious over the Lady Vikings of La Jolla by a score of 41-22.

In Coastal League basketball action, the tenth-ranked La Jolla Country Day (LJCD) men's team suffered a tough 72-65 loss to the eighth-ranked Francis Parker Lancers.

Six-foot sophomore guard Sage Burmeister totaled 17 points to lead the Torreys.

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