Roberto Nelson wasn’t about to let his Santa Barbara boys basketball team lose another tight Channel League contest at J.R. Richards Gym on Friday night, and the senior stayed true to himself in a 47-43 victory over visiting Buena.
“I just told myself – because I was down on myself for missing that shot against Ventura earlier in the year – that I wanted to make up for it and try to put my team back up and try to get this win,” explained Nelson after the Dons took over sole possession of second place in league thanks to the come-from-behind gut-check.
Nelson sank two huge free throws – the first was the front end of a 1-and-1 – with 7.5 seconds left to make it a two-possesion game and scored 13 of his game-high 19 points in the second half to help the Dons rally past – and then hold off – the Bulldogs.
Spencer Thomas’ fire was also lit in the second half as he scored 8 of his 10 in the final 16 minutes, combining with Nelson to provide 21 of the Dons’ 29 second-half point total.
“It’s easy to play with a player like that, he’s real good,” Nelson said of his fellow senior. “He has a quick first step and just blows past defenders, and is just great to play with. ”
After having trailed the entire game, the Dons finally caught the Bulldogs with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter on a Thomas 18-foot jump shot from the baseline. Thomas soon nailed another, this one a tough, 12-foot turn-around jumper in the key that created a 31-31 deadlock to begin the final frame.
John Uribe promptly knocked down a trey on the first possession, and the Dons took off on an 12-4 run that created a 43-35 advantage with three minutes left on the clock.
Buena put together a desperation 8-2 run capped by a Finn Wilson 3-pointer – but that was with 10 seconds left – and Nelson was fouled on the inbounds play and sent to the line to make two.
It would have been tighter if not for Nelson’s block on Buena’s leading scorer Robert Munoz.
Buena started its run with two free throws from Micah Whitcomb. Munoz made a steal on the ensuing press and went in for the quick layup but Nelson flew in from behind and swatted the ball away at its apex, drawing pleas from the Bulldogs for goaltending.
Munoz had 14 points.
“It was just a tough game,” said Dons head coach Chris Hantgin. “We got the key rebounds we needed to, we made the key free throws, but we were very lucky.
“It was a grind, I mean, it was a total grind.”
“Everybody knows how good Roberto is, and those other guys made some plays too,” said Buena head coach Craig Williams, whose Bulldogs (9-14, 3-4) relinquished second place in the Channel League to the Dons.
Buena only has crosstown rival Ventura left on its schedule while Santa Barbara is double-dipping its rivalry stick, taking on both San Marcos and Dos Pueblos with a playoff spot almost gauranteed with a win in either one.
SANTA BARBARA 47, BUENA 43
BUENA – Whitcomb 5, Munoz 14, Boys 2, Wilson 3, Winslow 2, Perry 7, Payan 5, Turner 5. 8, 15-23, 43.
SANTA BARBARA – Lloyd 4, Padilla 3, Thomas 10, Uribe 8, Leonard 3, Nelson 19. Totals – 14, 10-15, 47.
Buena 15 10 6 12 – 43
Santa Barbara 7 11 13 16 – 47
3-Pointers – B 4 (Munoz 3, Wilson), SB 3 (Uribe 2, Leonard). Total Fouls – B 16, SB 19.
