Manny Rodriguez’s fever broke just before the Seraphs’ heads got hot.
The Carpinteria star shook off sickness to score 22 points in Friday’s 62-57 boys basketball win over host St. Bonaventure (4-19, 1-7), which was called for three technical fouls in the fourth quarter.
“I think it was because of profanity towards the officials. Basically they lost their cool and we made it to the free throw line,” said Warriors coach John Ward.
Once at the charity stripe, the Warriors took advantage. Carpinteria was 18-for-24 on the night and Kevin Lusterio — who also scored 22 — went 10-for-10 in the second half.
The Warriors built an early 15-point lead, and Graham Craddock played some shut-down defense to enable a 13-2 Carp run to end the first half. But the Seraphs stormed back and pulled within two points during the fourth quarter. Ward said that the team was tired from playing four games in eight days, particularly Rodriguez who sucked it up and played through what has been a week-long illness.
Next up is a home game against league-leading Oaks Christian to close out the regular season. Ward plans to petition for a playoff spot based on the fact that all three teams above the Warriors (15=9, 4-5) in the Tri-Valley League are ranked.
CARPINTERIA 62, ST. BONAVENTURE 57
CARPINTERIA – Alvarado 6, Kono 7, Lusterio 22, Cervantes 5, Rodriguez 22 (sick hes been running a high fever all week hes still). Totals 20 18-24 62.
ST. BONAVENTURE – Taylor 9, Higby 4, Nunez 12, Gates 7, Clack 8, Andrews 7, Miguel 10. Totals 19 17-21 57.
Carpinteria….20 13 12 17 — 62
St. Bonaventure…16 6 14 21 — 57
3-point goals – C 4 (Lusterio 2, 1 Cerv, 1 Kono 1), SB 2 (Taylor 2).
Total fouls – C 16, SB 18
Fouled out — Andrews.
Technicals — Andrews, Miguel, Foster.
