HIGH TIDE SPORTS January 24, 2008 9 Basketball Beatdown Pistons school the Celtics in December’s game. By Sean Hamilton have made the 180 degree down to a 10th of a second western confrence teams. Staff Writer turn they have, becoming Detroit’s Billups hit two key the best team in the NBA. free throws that handed On December 19 the Boston With the off season trades, Boston their fi rst home loss Celtics received their fi rst home the required talents of Ray of the season, 87-85. Billups, defeat of the season at the Allen and Kevin Garnett, the who scored 12 of the teams 28 hands of the Detroit Pistons. Celtics exploded to NBA points in the 4th quarter, had With a record of 20-3, not stardom. Paul Pierce, Kevin an outstanding game. many would have bet against Garnett, and Ray Allen have Former Minnesota the momentum of this Celtic earned the name the Boston 3 Timberwolves star, Kevin squad, as this is the best start Party playing off of the name Garnett led the Celtics with of a Celtic season since the of the colonial revolt. 26 points, and Ray Allen, who legendary 63-64 team that went In the fi rst quarter the returned after missing the on to win the championship Celtics were on track last two games because of a game. The last time the Celtics to winning yet another previous ankle problem. had this dominance dates back game by out scoring the pistons Although their winning to the 80s with Larry Bird, by two baskets, mostly with the streak at home is over, when the Celtics won three help of Ray Allen’s 9 points. Boston’s success so far was championship games. The second quarter was also unprecedented. Making this Drive to the hoop: (above) Detriot Pistons After ranking near last in good to the Celtics as they season one to watch until the small forward Tayshaun Prince goes for two. the 2007 season, among the entered the locker room with a fi nals. It has a been many years (top right) Boston Celtics player blatently fouls NBA’s teams, no one would 7-point lead over the Pistons at since an Eastern division team member of the opposing team. (botrtom right) have expected this team to half time. As the clock wound has the skill to compete with Pistons player sets up for the jump shot. Photos courtesy of www.nba.com COLLEGE COLLISION LSU and Ohio State go head to head at the college football BCS. By Kyle Loomis Halfway through the fi rst quar- of about ten points per game, against LSU, they’ll be even there were only two teams with Staff Writer ter of the game, Ohio State had already given up seven- better next year,” senior Ohio one loss at the end of the sea- doubters were stunned that the teen points before halftime. State fan Kevin Miller said. son, so it’s diffi cult to say which At the college football Bowl young Buckeye offense, led by When the OSU Buckeyes of- “I didn’t see it coming and two teams deserve to play in the Championship Series (BCS) quarterback Todd Boeckman fense took the fi eld again, the I’m really disappointed that Championship Game without Championship Game on and running back Chris Wells, LSU defensive line, led by fi rst Ohio State lost,” freshman a playoff bracket similar to the Monday, January 7, 2008, his- were able to run all over the team All-American defensive Ohio State fan Katie Beathard National Football League. Af- tory repeated itself. For the LSU defense. LSU was quick tackle Glenn Dorsey, immedi- said. ter seeing the rest of the bowl second consecutive year, the to answer however, tying the ately established their domi- For the second straight year, games at the end of this season, Ohio State University Buck- game at ten points and seem- nance. Repeatedly pressuring OSU failed to win when it the University of Southern eyes entered the BCS Cham- ingly gaining strength. the young and inexperienced mattered most. The BCS California or the University of pionship Game as the number Things went from bad to Boeckman, they forced him to Championship game match- Georgia both probably would one ranked football team in worse for Ohio State when throw a poor pass that was in- up of OSU versus have had a better chance at the nation and were utterly OSU’s wide receiver Brian tercepted by the LSU defense. LSU confi rmed defeating LSU. Hopefully, in out-played by their opponent. Robiskie dropped a pass that Before the fi rst half ended, the controversial future years, there will be a After an embarrassing 41-14 would have been a touchdown LSU had scored 24 unan- and questioned less complicated way of de- loss in the 2007 Champion- on third down. The following swered points, destroying the method that ciding who should play ship Game to University of fi eld goal attempt was blocked morale of Ohio State players the BCS uses for the national cham- Florida, Ohio State’s attempt by LSU; by this point in the and fans alike. In the second to choose its pionship, because it at redemption was shut down game it was quite evident that half, the woes of Ohio State top two teams. is plainly obvious by a dominant Louisiana State the momentum had shifted in continued. The Buckeyes were National rankings that the BCS offi - University football team in favor of the LSU Tigers. plagued by personal fouls on are made pri- cials were this year’s BCS Championship LSU quickly took the lead crucial defensive stops and marily from w r o n g Game in New Orleans. by scoring a touchdown on poor tackling, which led LSU looking at t h i s Almost identical to last year’s their next offensive drive, call- to score again. Ohio State teams’ re- year. game versus Florida, Ohio ing a wide array of plays tried to engineer a comeback, cords and dif- State jumped to a quick that utilized the many but more key defensive stops fi culty of schedule. lead during the fi rst weapons that their by Dorsey quickly smothered “I think they should minutes of the offense offers, in- any hope Ohio State had of have a playoff with g a m e . cluding consis- winning the game. As time fi - the top 32 teams. tent third down nally ran out, the LSU fans in It’s the best way conversions by New Orleans rejoiced as LSU to fi nd the true running back Ja- was crowned college football best team,” cob Hester. champs. Ohio State fans were junior Lee The Ohio tragically disappointed with A b e l k o p State de- another depressing end to the said. f e n s e , season. w h i c h “OSU started out strong, but Throughout w a s unfortunately looked unchar- this season, r a n k e d acteristically undisciplined there were four number and made a lot of crucial mis- different teams one in the takes. There were some good ranked at num- c o u n t r y things OSU did - I was really ber one. No and had impressed with Chris Wells’ teams ended given up stiff-arm on a run play. As long up with un- Tackled: LSU’s quarterback looks for a pass. LSU and an average as they learn from the game defeated records, and Ohio State batttle it out on the fi eld. 8 SPORTS January 24, 2008 HIGH TIDE MOTOCROSS MADNESS By Kaitlin Sharpe Senior Josh Pickney has to hang out with friends as he temperature is perfect, and I escape,” Ayoub said, “It gets Staff Writer been riding for the past three circles the Lake Elsinore track get to spend a lot of time out me away from everything years and has fallen in love with on his Honda 450. When not in the desert.” else.” Revving engines, gasoline, the sport. He frequents Plaster on the track himself, Fudge But not all off road riders Another Quad rider at La soft sand, and mud can only City , a popular riding hub, on enjoys watching Supercross, in the desert are riding dirt Jolla High school , sophomore mean one thing: it is dirt biking his Yamaha YZ 125. Pickney professional dirt bike riding on bikes. Some riders, including Briana Jones, knows what it season. As cold temperatures races as often as possible and a track, where he cheers on top sophomore Jordan Ayoub, means to ride hard. She learned come, making the normally hot can even be jump distances as ranked rider Bubba Stewart. ride quads, or four wheeled how to ride quads at the age of desert weather more bearable, far as 30 feet. “The best part about dirt motorized vehicles. His eight, and has loved the desert a few La Jolla High students “My favorite part about bike riding is just the thrill,” Honda EX 400 ever since. She enjoys weekend throw on their boots and chest motocross is going really fast,” Fudge said, “There is quad thrives in trips to Ocotillo Wells, which protectors in search of the best Pickney said. nothing else like it.” has a mix of hard packed dirt trails, tracks, and jumps. Fellow rider, Both a street and and soft sand washes- perfect Although not one of sophomore Braden Fudge desert rider, junior for her Suzuki 250. the most popular sports knows a thing or two Troy Leloup heads “Motocross is a at La Jolla High, about motocross.