Carpinteria’s boys basketball team stayed tight with Oak Park for three quarters on Wednesday, but Oak Park made the difference in the third quarter of a 53-37 Tri-Valley victory over the Warriors.
The Eagles held a weak 20-17 lead at halftime but scored the first six points of the third to grab a nine-point lead and ended up winning the quarter 16-7. Carpinteria kept Oak Park close in every other quarter.
“We played a very good first half. We felt like we were in pretty good shape,” said Warriors head coach John Ward. “They’re doing all the things we should be doing, we’re just not getting any wins.”
Carpinteria (10-11, 1-7) has lost seven straight games now since losing starting point guard Kevin Lusterio to a season-ending knee injury. Oak Park is leading the league at 7-1.
Manny Rodriguez posted 19 points and nine rebounds to lead Carpinteria. Trevor Madden knocked down two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to get the Warriors back on track after the third quarter.
Tanner Byers had the hot hand for Oak Park, scoring all of his 18 points in the second half. Oak Park’s leading scorer, Austin Ramljak, was held to five points.
Carpinteria faces St. Bonaventure on Friday night, a team that defeated the Warriors in overtime in their first meeting. A non-league game with Bishop Diego follows on Monday.
OAK PARK 53, CARPINTERIA 37
OAK PARK – Hall 5, Brodie 8, Stevens 9, Byers 18, Lee 8, Ramljak 5. Totals – 23 FG, 3-4 FT, 53.
CARPINTERIA – Babineaux 2, Madden 6, Sova 2, Bustillos 3, Saenz 5, Rodriguez 19. Totals 11 FG, 9-14 FT, 37.
Oak Park 12 8 16 17 – 53
Carpinteria 11 6 7 13 – 37
3-pt OP 4 (Byers 2, Hall 1, Ramaljack), C 6 (Rodriguez 3, Madden 2, Saenz 1) OP 9, C 7. Records OP 7-1, 16-7. C 1-7, 10-11.
