Dylan Houck’s 24 points were too many and too often for Santa Barbara’s boys basketball team on Wednesday night, as the Dons fell 52-33 to Ventura in a Channel League matchup at JR Richards Gym.
“Things just kind of ran away from us in the second half but I was pleased with our effort,” said Dons head coach Chris Hantgin, especially proud of Santa Barbara’s interior defense.
Houck, a point guard, sank four 3-pointers and converted on 6-of-7 free-throw attempts while the Cougar big men were limited. Isaac Anderson, standing 6-foot-7 and Ventura’s leading rebounder this season, was held scoreless.
“He had a very economical 24,” Hantgin said of Houck.
Dons big man Clifford Anderson was active on defense and also posted a team-high eight points to go with eight rebounds.
Santa Barbara (1-19, 0-3) has a ten-day break in its schedule before its next game at Buena. Ventura, tied with San Marcos in league with a 2-0 record, plays the Bulldogs first on Friday night.
VENTURA 52, SANTA BARBARA 33
VENTURA – Reeves 5, Houck 24, Thomas 4, Gwin 4, Tice 8, Garrett 5, Quintana 2. Totals FG 18, 10-17 FT, 62
SANTA BARBARA – Mikles 5, Madrigal 2, Hedden 3, Anderson 8, Marshall 2, Chandler 4, medina 1, Adams 6, Arrellano 2. Totals – 10 FG, 10-18 FT, 33.
Ventura 11 13 15 13 – 52
Santa barbar 7 5 10 11 – 33
3-ptrs – V 6 (Houck 4, Reeves, Thomas) SB 3 (Mikles, Hedden, Adams). Total Fouls SB 17, V 17
