Santa Barbara’s best chance yet to pick up its first win in boys basketball slipped away on Saturday, as the Dons saw a 35-26 halftime lead evaporate into a 52-50 loss against Santa Paula at the Pacifica Tournament.
Daniel Marshall had a season-high 18 points and R.J. Rosborough returned from illness to score eight. The Cardinals banked in a 3-pointer as well as the front end of a 1-and-1 in the last minute.
“We shot much better than we’ve been shooting, but we allowed them to get back in the game,” said assistant coach John Slavin. “We’re just going to tell the kids to keep their heads up. If they keep playing hard and shooting like today the wins will come.”
Slavin added that Marshall “looked like the Daniel Marshall I know for the first time this year” and that Rosborough is a “steadying influence” down low for Santa Barbara (0-11).
SANTA PAULA 52, SANTA BARBARA 50
SANTA BARBARA — Mikles 5, Aronson 6, Madrigal 1, Anderson 4, Marshall 18, Rosborough 8, Adams 6, Martinez 2. Totals 23 2-3
SANTA PAULA — Martinez 17, Dasas 10, Aguilar 8, Klein 10, Jimenez 7. Totals 19 7-9.
Santa Barbara…14 21 10 5 — 50
Santa Paula…11 15 14 12 — 52
3-pointers — SB 2 (Mikles, Marshall 1). SP 7 (Martinez 5, Aguilar 1, Jimenez. 1). Total fouls — SB 13, SP 4.
