After an exhausting Tuesday which included an overtime win over rival Carpinteria and a disappointing loss to Santa Ynez, the Carpinteria boys basketball team finished strong in the Valley Christian Academy Tournament with a 54-40 win over Exeter in Wednesday’s third place game.
It was just another day at the office for Manny Rodriguez, who scored 26 points and pulled down 17 rebounds for the Warriors, who are now 8-4. Junior Victor Garcia, who began the season on the JV squad, got his first start of the year and turned in 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
“I was happy today with the fact that we came back after a bitter loss last night, where didn’t play well,” said coach John Ward. “They were a pretty good team, and I was happy with the effort.”
Kevin Lusterio scored nine points and dished out 10 assists for Carpinteria. Despite scoring 36 points and almost single-handedly carrying the Warriors past the Cardinals on Tuesday, Carpinteria received just one spot on the All-Tournament Team, and it was given to a well-deserving Rodriguez.
“I was dumbfounded by that,” said Ward of the decision to give the honors to just one Carpinteria player. He added that he thinks Lusterio and Rodriguez “are two of the best players in the county.”
The Warriors play at Santa Paula on Tuesday.
CARPINTERIA 54, EXETER 40
CARPINTERIA — Garcia 13, Madden 4, Lusterio 9, Sova 2, Rodriguez 26. Totals 22 8-13 54.
EXETER — Ibarra 8, James 8, Souza 10, Winding 9, Totty 1, Harden 4. Totals 16 7-15 40.
Carpinteria…21 12 5 16 — 54
Exeter…10 8 9 13 — 40
3-point goals — C 1 (Lusterio), E 1 (Ibarra). Total fouls — C 17, E 14.
