Jake Hall helps Carlsbad capture second CIF Championship in four seasons

The freshman guard finished the night with a 21-point, 15-rebound double-double

CHULA VISTA, Calif. – The big stage proved to be no big deal for Jake Hall. The six-foot-three Carlsbad freshman guard scored 11 of his team’s first 13 points on Friday night to help the Lancers dispatch La Jolla Country Day 52-42 in the San Diego Section Division 1 Championship game.

Hall finished the night with a game-high 21 points and 15 rebounds.

“He exceeded every single expectation I had for him,” Carlsbad head coach Clark Allard said of Hall postgame. “Not only is he one of the best players in San Diego already but he’s been coachable throughout, he’s been a great teammate, there is no ceiling for Jake.”

Carlsbad led by 13 points after the first quarter thanks to Hall’s hot start and kept the Torreys at bay, never allowing them to get closer than eight points despite several mini scoring runs over the final three quarters.

It’s been quite the season for the Lancers, who started the year 1-3, including losing their season opener to Mission Bay by 40 points on the same floor they won Friday’s championship game on.

“Everything has changed,” Allard said of his group that has now won 20 of their last 28 games. “It was a brand-new system, guys weren’t used to playing with each other, but everybody bought in. We’ve got a group of seniors that have really led the way and have held everybody accountable. It’s just a group that loves playing together and always plays as hard or harder than anyone we play against.”

Playing without a traditional big man as they have all season, the Lancers pushed the tempo and consistently trapped and pressed the Torreys to speed the game up.

“Every single game we’ve had a size disadvantage,” Allard said. “We’ve got a team full of guards and if you’re stuck on a big guy you’ve got to find a way to box out and grab rebounds.”

Hall and the Lancers were up to the task, holding the Torreys to just nine points in the final quarter while limiting their second-chance point opportunities on the backboards.

“I’m glad I could do it for the seniors,” Hall said. “They got a ring, that’s amazing.”

Both Carlsbad and La Jolla Country Day will play in next week’s CIF State playoffs and will find out their opponents when brackets release on Sunday afternoon.