Sports Figure of the Month: John Zant

John Zant stands in with one of UCSB's greatest women's basketball players in Erin Alexander.

It was a chance meeting that would forever change his life …Had he left minutes earlier on that hot August afternoon, he would have missed that golden lead of a ‘temporary’ sports reporting gig for a local paper.Now almost 44 years later we celebrate ‘The Dean’ of local sports writers –- award-winning and much-beloved John Zant, as our first 2012 Presidio Sports 'Sports Figure of the Month' in recognition of a near-lifetime of outstanding local sports reporting and feature … [Read more...]

Dons win keeps path open to league title

Dons captain Alberto Hernandez watches a pass get past him.

Santa Barbara High kept its Channel League title hopes alive on Tuesday with a 1-0 defeat of visiting Dos Pueblos, setting up a Thursday showdown with Ventura that will decide the league championship."It was a really important game to win," said Dons senior captain Alberto Hernandez. "We're really tight right now in league going for first place."Santa Barbara can claim its second league championship in three years with a victory on Thursday. A loss would hand the Cougars the league … [Read more...]

Chargers beat Dons, take City Championship

Dos Pueblos' girls soccer team claimed the undisputed City Championship on Tuesday by defeating Santa Barbara 3-1 at Girsh Park.The game's location was changed from Dos Pueblos to Girsh due to wet conditions.The Chargers went 4-0 against Santa Barbara and San Marcos this season and hold a 6-1 Channel League record going into Thursday's game against league-leading Buena.Natalie Klapp gave the Chargers a 1-0 lead in the first half on a goal assisted by Rosalba Barbosa.After Santa … [Read more...]

Chargers turn away Santa Barbara for second time

DP_Frame

Dos Pueblos' boys basketball team wielded the free throw as its most dangerous weapon on Tuesday, sinking 13 of them in the fourth quarter of a 58-55 Channel League victory over visiting Santa Barbara.The free throw is not something that has been in Joe Zamora's team's arsenal."Our team has had a lot of struggles this year and to step up down the stretch - because one of our biggest weaknesses is free throws - to make our free throws down the stretch just made it that much more … [Read more...]

Dons fight off DP to earn a share of Channel League title

For the first time in five years, Santa Barbara will not be finishing second to Dos Pueblos in the Channel League girls water polo standings.The Dons earned at least a share of the league title with the Chargers by pulling out a thrilling 8-7 victory over their league rivals on Tuesday at the Santa Barbara pool.Betsy Hendrix’s goal off a counterattack with 2:28 remaining in the fourth period turned out to be the game-winner. The goal gave the Dons an 8-6 lead.DP’s Laurel Kistler … [Read more...]

Jay Demerit Story showing at Lobero on Thursday

Rise and Shine movie poster

A moving and inspirational success tale that just happens to be about sports, “Rise and Shine: The Jay Demerit Story”, winner of the Rising Star Award at the Canada International Film Festival premieres in Santa Barbara on Thursday at the Lobero Theater.Showtime is at 7 p.m. and tickets can be purchased from the Lobero Box Office by calling (805) 963-0761. All proceeds will support our local Santa Barbara Soccer Club.“Rise and Shine” traces Jay DeMerit’s heart-tugging … [Read more...]

SB County Super Seven Boys Basketball Rankings

Presidio Sports will release the Santa Barbara County Super Seven for boys basketball each Monday throughout the league season. It is a way for you to see how our County teams stack up against each other from week to week during the season.The rankings are not based on a vote, but determined by considering a combination of results, strength of schedule, common opponents, momentum, and a variety of other factors.This is the sixth week of rankings. CLICK HERE for past weeks. Next week … [Read more...]

Dons earn Channel League split with Dos Pueblos

The Dons won this one between the two teams, with Dos Pueblos winning the first two meetings between the teams this season.

Ivette Gil's stepped up in a big game for Santa Barbara High on Monday. Gil's 22 points, nine rebounds, and four steals were a large part of the Dons' 56-47 Channel League victory over visiting Dos Pueblos.Gil made eight of her 14 shot attempts in the game."It was probably her best game of the year if you look at all she did," said Dons head coach Andrew Butcher.As a team, the Dons converted 19 of 22 free throws. Sylvia Hoover paved the way for Santa Barbara in that department by … [Read more...]

SB County Super Seven Girls Basketball Rankings

Presidio Sports will release the Santa Barbara County Super Seven for girls basketball each Monday throughout the league season. It is a way for you to see how our County teams stack up against each other from week to week during the season.The rankings are not based on a vote, but determined by considering a combination of results, strength of schedule, common opponents, momentum, and a variety of other factors.This is the sixth week of rankings. CLICK HERE for past weeks.SANTA … [Read more...]

SB County Super Seven Girls Soccer Rankings

Dos Pueblos can earn a share of the Channel League title this week at homeThe third-ranked Chargers (5-1 in league) play a hungry Santa Barbara on Tuesday and host perennial champion Buena (6-0) on Thursday. They’ve twice lost one-goal games against the Bulldogs: 1-0 in a tournament a 2-1 in their first league meeting.Buena, meanwhile faces a hot San Marcos team on Tuesday. The Royals have won two in a row.In the Los Padres League, Cabrillo (9-0-1, 28 points) holds a four-point … [Read more...]

Four local wrestlers capture Channel League championships

Santa Barbara’s Bryce Vinion and Chad Lampe of Dos Pueblos repeated as champions and Chargers Yaskin Solano and Rudy Cortes captured their first titles Saturday at the Channel League wrestling championships at Santa Barbara High’s J.R. Richards Gym.Ventura, the dual meet champion, won nine individual titles to lead all teams.The top three finishers at the meet qualified for the CIF Prelims on Feb. 17. Dos Pueblos will send eight wrestlers into the postseason, San Marcos four and … [Read more...]

Dos Pueblos routed by Ventura

Ventura’s potent offense overpowered Dos Pueblos, 60-32, in a Channel League boys basketball game Friday night.Mansai Conner scored 20 points for the ChargersIkaika Batausa sank four 3-pointers en route to 16 points to lead the better-balanced Cougars (20-5, 11-0). Zach Gwin scored 15 points and Connor Neary added 10."Ventura started fast and never really looked back," DP coach Joe Zamora. "We struggled at times to convert on the offensive end but the guys competed for 32 … [Read more...]