Caitlin Wallace had her best game in recent weeks, scoring 11 of her 13 in the first half, but Carpinteria fell short against perennial power Morro Bay in Thursday’s first round of the CIF girls basketball playoffs, 39-23.
“Caitlin really kept us in the game offensively and we were neck and neck with them for three quarters,” said coach Dan Mercer. “We did a great job defensively and I’m proud of that.”
Things unravelled when the Pirates hit two consecutive threes late in the game.
The Warriors return eight players to next year’s team, but must say goodbye to seniors Nicole Pearce, Jaclyn Guerrero, Nalani Evans-Gonda and Catalina Cisneros.
“Each of them played a big role in their own way and we’re sad to see them go, but the future is bright for us,” said Mercer.
MORRO BAY 39, CARPINTERIA 23
CARPINTERIA — Pearce 2, Freeman 1, Wallace 13, Burch 7. Totals 5 1-4 23.
MORRO BAY — Hansen 16, Lundblade 4, Detwiler 1, Ramos 5, Porter 6, Sterkel 5, Reinhart 2. Totals 6 17-26 39.
Carpinteria….5 7 4 7 — 23
Morro Bay…..7 9 1 12 — 39
3-point goals — C 4 (Wallace 3, Burch 1), MB 2 (Hansen2).
Total fouls — C 20, MB 12.
Fouled out — Pearce.
Team records — C 15-10, MB 16-9.
