After her team suffered two key injuries on Saturday, Claudia Ochoa picked up the San Marcos girls basketball team and took the Royals to a 44-23 victory over Carpinteria in the Warriors’ gym on Tuesday.
“Claudia had a career-best game,” said San Marcos head coach Kristyn Miller of the senior guard, who had 28 points, 15 rebounds and three steals.
Junior Desiree Porter-Ray also stepped up, recording seven points and nine rebounds in her first start.
Junior guard Amanda Burch led Carpinteria with seven points and eight rebounds.
“It’s just a good challenge for us,” said Carpinteria coach Dan Mercer, saying the Royals were the best team the Warriors had seen so far this season.
“There is a lot of silver lining to this game: It gets us ready for league.”
The Warriors (3-3) continue to get ready for league play at the Providence Tournament this weekend in Burbank. Calabasas is the first-round opponent.
San Marcos begins Tournament of Champions play on its home court with a 7:30 p.m. game against Beaverton.
The Royals will continue to be without leading-scorer Jeannette Mendoza and starting post player Marissa Unzueta, who are out significant time due to injury. Mendoza will be back sooner, in 2-to-3 weeks.
SAN MARCOS 44, CARPINTERIA 23
Carpinteria 4 9 2 8 – 23
San Marcos 13 15 9 9 – 44
San Marcos – Curiel 4, Brown 4, Chilton 5, Porter-Ray 7, Sanchez 3, Ochoa 21, 17, 5-8, 44
Carpinteria – Pearce 5, Leonard 5, Wallace 5, Burch 7, Diaz 2, Steene 4 . 8, 6-13, 23
3-pointers – SM 5 (Ochoa 2, Sanchez, Chilton, Curiel) Carp 1 (Pearce) Total Fouls – SM 15, C 11.
