Even with star player Manny Rodriguez sidelined at the last minute due to sickness, the Carpinteria boys basketball team played Oak Park to a first-half stalemate before succumbing late to the Tri-Valley League’s first-place team, 46-36.
“There were all kinds of reasons that we could have not played our best, but give the kids credit, they didn’t give up,” said Warriors head coach John Ward, who thought his team played much better than two days prior in a home bashing from Santa Clara.
Nathan Saito (4-of-5 on 3-pointers) and Isacc Cervantes shouldered some of the scoring load, posting 12 and 11 points respectively. Point guard Kevin Lusterio added eight more.
Oak Park’s leading scorer, Sam Levine, was held to single digits thanks to the defensive work of sophomore Trevor Madden and James Kono.
The loss drops the Warriors to 14-9 overall and 3-5 in the Tri-Valley League. Oak Park is now 7-1 but has to play league powers Santa Clara and Oaks Christian in its final two games before laying claim to a league title.
Carpinteria finishes off a stretch of four games in eight days on Friday when they welcome St. Bonaventure to town for a 7 p.m. tip off.
OAK PARK 46, CARPINTERIA 36
CARPINTERIA – Saito 12, Alvarado 5, Lusterio 8, Cervantes 11. Totals 15, 4-6, 36
OAK PARK – McCarthy 2, Hahadju 6, Brodie 10, Stevens 6, Lane 2, Levine 9, Lamb 7, Gundell 5. Totals 20, 3-4, 47
Carpinteria 5 15 6 10 – 36
Oak Park 6 14 10 16 – 46
3-pointers – C 6 (Saito 4, Lusterio, Cervantes), OP 4 (Hahadju 2, Levine, Lamb). Total Fouls – C 10, OP 13.
