Coach John Ward is in a familiar place.
In 28 years of coaching in the Jim Bashore Classic, the former Bishop coach and current Carpinteria helmsman has made it to the championship game at least 12 times, he estimates.
But Ward only has one title, and will get another crack Saturday against San Marcos after the Warriors defeated Channel Islands 59-36 Friday night.
Manny Rodriguez had 19 points and 14 boards against the Raiders, while five other Warriors had three rebounds.
“It wasn’t a pretty game. It was kind of a grind-it-out game,” said Ward. “They are a very quick team and it caused us to force things we shouldn’t have offensively, but when you play good defense you can get away with that.”
James Kono had four assists and no turnovers, and Ward said he did an excellent job of being assertive with the ball.
The Warriors and Royals square off at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Carpinteria High with the championship on the line.
CARPINTERIA 59, CHANNEL ISLANDS 36
CHANNEL ISLANDS—Kaigler 11, FJuarez 9, Greene 7, Raya 4, VJuarez 5. Totals 14 6-13 36.
CARPINTERIA—Saito 8, Price 6, Alvarado 6, Kono 3, Lusterio 10, Bustillos 3, Cervantes 4, Rodriguez 19. Totals 20 13-19 59.
Channel Islands…..8 11 9 8 — 36
Carpinteria……….14 14 16 15 — 59
3-point goals—CI 2 (Greene, VJuarez ), C 6 (Saito 2, Rodriguez 2, Kono 1, Lusterio 1).
Total fouls—CI 15, C 14.
Team Records—CI 3-5, C 6-1.
