They’re 5-2 on the season, but Santa Barbara girls basketball coach Andrew Butcher says that Saturday’s loss was the Dons’ best game of the year.
Chaminade beat Santa Barbara 69-65 in a back-and-forth battle in the third-place game at the Gold Coast Tournament at the Thunderhut. Rebecca Griffin scored 25 points and made the all-tourney squad, while Tess Emerson tallied 14 points and Jackie Kerns added 11.
“It was an improvement. It was just a great high school basketball game and we played very well in the second half,” said Butcher.
The Dons won the second half 34-31 and the game was tied early in the fourth before Chaminade pulled it out.
“They’re a strong team. If you make a mistake, they make you pay,” said Butcher.
Kerns and Emerson each pulled down eight rebounds, and Butcher said that Kerns was exceptional defensively.
As a whole, the longtime coach was very happy with his team’s showing at the tournament, saying that they played well for all but one half against Agoura.
