Carpinteria’s boys basketball team lost its fifth straight contest since losing starting senior point guard Kevin Lusterio on Wednesday night, a 42-36 defeat to Santa Clara.
The Warriors, 10-9 overall, are now 1-5 in Tri-Valley League decisions with their only league win coming the night Lusterio was lost for the season.
“We’re doing so many good things but in the end we’re still losing,” said Carpinteria head coach John Ward, who saw his team jump out to a 14-2 lead by the end of the first quarter.
“We put on a clinic in the first quarter, we really did,” Ward said.
But turnovers reared their ugly head, as the Warriors committed 17 of their 19 turnovers after the first period. To make matters worse, Carpinteria’s scoring also dried up, scoring only 8 points in the second and third quarter combined after its 14-point first quarter.
“We just couldn’t hang on to it,” said Ward.
Manny Rodriguez did his usual damage, tallying 22 points and pulling down 18 rebounds.
Football lineman Jovan Saenz took his turn at the point guard position and dished out five assists while Daniel Babineaux added eight points on 4-for-5 shooting.
The Warriors look to get back into the win column on Friday against Malibu.
SANTA CLARA 42, CARPINTERIA 36
CARPINTERIA – Babineaux 8, Sova 3, Madden 3, Rodriguez 22. Totals 14, 4-9 FT, 36.
SANTA CLARA Craig 7, De La Huerta 4, jackson 8, Kilmer 10, Martinez 3, Randolph 10. Totals 15 FG, 9-13 FT, 42
Carpinteria 14 2 6 14 – 36
Santa Clara 2 11 13 16 – 42
3-ptrs – C 4 (Madden, Rodriguez 3), SC 3 (Kilmer). Total Fouls – C 13, SC 12. Technical – SC Coach
