It was a night to forget for coach Chris Hantgin and the Santa Barbara boys basketball team.
The Dons received a thumping at Ventura on Wednesday night, absorbing a 61-42 Channel League defeat.
The loss drops the Dons to 7-10 overall, 2-3 in league. Friday’s matchup with Buena gives the winner the inside track to second place in league and an automatic playoff berth.
Roberto Nelson put up a game-high 23 points and John Uribe tossed in three 3-pointers to add nine points.
The Dons played from behind the entire way, getting beat by seven in each of the first two quarters to take on a 14-point deficit by halftime.
Santa Barbara did hold Cougar captains Paul Batausa and Ricky Faussett scoreless, but 6-foot-6 Michael Melonas and Kory Kindle picked up the slack, accounting for more than half of Ventura’s total scoring output.
VENTURA 61, SANTA BARBARA 42
SANTA BARBARA – Thomas 6, Uribe 9, Lloyd 2, Nelson 23, Fauntleroy 2. Totals – 10, 8-16, 42
VENTURA – Kindle 14, Hauck 2, Reeves 3, Kelsch 6, Water 5, Garrett 12, Melonas 19. Totals – 26, 4-11, 61.
Santa Barbara 8 12 10 12 – 42
Ventura 15 19 12 15 – 61
3-pointers – SB 4 (Uribe 3, Nelson), V 3 (Kindle, Reeves, Water).
