Carpinteria’s dynamic duo of Kevin Lusterio and Manny Rodriguez struck again on Tuesday, carrying the Warriors to a 57-42 non-league victory at Santa Paula in their final preseason contest.
Lusterio came through in the first half, scoring 17 of his 19 points before halftime while Rodriguez sat on the bench in foul trouble. Rodriguez was let off the chain in the second half and poured in 15 of his game-high 23 points over the final two quarters.
“They kind of 1-2 punched them,” said Carpinteria head coach John Ward, whose Warriors open up Tri-Valley League play on Friday at home against Santa Clara with a 9-4 record.
Rodriguez was relegated to the pine after he picked up his second foul four minutes into the game, leaving his teammates to build a 30-16 halftime lead behind Lusterio.
“For us to get up 14 without him is big,” Ward said, crediting several role players with contributions not found in the box score.
Trevor Madden did a good job defensively, limiting the Cardinals’ leading scorer Eduardo Jimenez to 12 points.
“(Jimenez) did not get very many good looks,” Ward said.
Rodriguez added 10 rebounds to his point total for a double-double.
CARPINTERIA 57, SANTA PAULA 42
CARPINTERIA – Garcia 2, Madden 6, Lusterio 19, Sova 3, Saenz 4, Rodriguez 23. Totals – 23 FG, 9-16 FT, 57.
SANTA PAULA – Correa 8, Marquez 3, Casas 14, Aguilar 5, Jimenez 12. Totals – 17 FG, 6-8 FT, 42.
Carpinteria 12 18 16 11 – 57
Santa Paula 7 9 9 17 – 42
3-ptrs – C 2 (Lusterio, Madden), SP 2 (Aguilar, Jimenez). Total Fouls – C 13, SP 13. Fouled Out- Jimenez.
Records – C 9-4, SP 2-10
