Carpinteria’s boys basketball team was ahead until the whistles went dead.
“Oak Park executed better down the stretch and played very good defense,” said coach John Ward after the Warriors’ 45-38 loss to Oak Park on Friday night.
He also pointed out another reason why he feels Carp might have lost.
“THEY DIDN’T CALL ANY FOULS ON THEM IN THE LAST 10 MINUTES,” he said, giving his consent to hold the shift key while writing the statement.
Justin Alvarado scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds, but Ward said he was benched for much of the game because of, ironically, foul trouble. Oak Park was called for 10 fouls in the game, while the Warriors were only called for 12.
Manny Rodriguez scored 15 points for Carpinteria, which drops to 12-6 overall and 0-2 in the Tri-Valley League. Oak Park is also 12-6, but has a 3-0 mark in the TVL.
“I don’t think this is a slow start in league, because these are darn good teams,” he said, adding that it was the first close game — win or lose — that Carp had played all season.
And one last gem from Ward for the road:
“Great home cookin’, huh? If I were Oak Park I’d want to play every game in our gym.”
St. Bonaventure is up next on Wednesday.
OAK PARK 45, CARPINTERIA 38
OAK PARK — Vradei 12, SLane 2, BLane 5, Stephens 12, Levine 14. Totals 18 5-6 45.
CARPINTERIA — Saito 2, Avarado 11, Madden 2, Lusterio 8, Rodriguez 15. Totals 17 3-4 38.
Oak Park……….6 10 16 13 — 45
Carpinteria…..10 13 8 7 — 38
3-point goals — OP 4 (Levine 4), C 1 (Rodriguez).
Total fouls — OP 10, C 12.
Team records — C 12-6, 1-2, OP 12-6 3-0.
