A 4-2 start and third-place standing hadn’t dissuaded Carpinteria boys basketball head coach John Ward from considering Santa Clara to be the best the Tri-Valley League has to offer this season.
On a day when the visiting Saints handed the Warriors an 81-53 shellacking and leaped over first-place Oaks Christian in the latest CIF poll, it’s hard to argue with the man.
“They physically beat us. They beat us down,” admitted Ward after the loss, noting the Saints’ superior athleticism as a huge factor in the game.
The Saints were led by 6-foot-6 Trevor Warren’s 18 points, most coming at or near the rim, including a second-quarter two-handed slam dunk on the break.
Santa Clara (13-6, 5-2 TVL) asserted its dominance in the first quarter, leading from start to finish.
After Carpinteria’s Kevin Lusterio and Manny Rodriguez hit back-to-back layups to make it 10-9 Saints, Santa Clara took off on a 15-0 run that stretched into the second quarter.
Rodriguez fought to keep the Warriors in the game, scoring 11 points of his 16 points in that second quarter, but Carpinteria still trailed by 16 at halftime. Rodriguez and Lusterio scored 22 of their team’s 25 points in the half.
But the Warriors just gave up way too many rebounds and easy buckets to compete.
“Most of teams that we play are bigger than us, and we know that, we just have to match them physically,” said Lusterio, who finished with a team-high 18 points. “I’m not disapointed in the effort – our effort was there – we just couldn’t execute.”
James Kono did come up with a season-high 12 points by knocking down four 3-pointers.
“They’re a very good team; they’re gonna go deep into the playoffs,” predicted Ward, whose own team is 14-8, 3-4 TVL with three games to play.
“This is a big game. Every game from now on is a big game. We have to keep winning and hopefully someone knocks out Oaks Christian,” said Saints coach Michael Sandoval of his team’s scenario.
For the Warriors, Wednesday’s home game against Oak Park is definitely a big game. A loss would eliminate Carpinteria from contention for third place in league and an automatic CIF bid, although Ward plans to petition for a playoff spot if the Warriors fall into fourth place.
Tipoff is at 7 p.m.
SANTA CLARA 81, CARPINTERIA 53
SANTA CLARA – Wood 14, Warren 18, Wilder 12, Gonzalez 10, Craig 2, Meyer 6, Robbins 5, Komski 9, Torres 3, Collins 2. Totals – 35, 8-17, 81
CARPINTERIA – Lusterio 18, Rodriguez 16, Kono 12, Alvarado 1, Saito 3, Cervantes 2, Bustillos 1. Totals – 10, 12-16, 53.
Santa Clara
Carpinteria
3-Pointers – SC 1 (Komski), C 7 (Kono 4, Lusterio 2, Saito). Total Fouls – SC 19, C 17.
Records – SC 5-2 TVL, C 14-8, 3-4 TVL.
