Breakers head coach Curt Pickering brought the Breakers and the Ventura Jets outside for Saturday's WCBL game at Girsh Park. (Presidio Sports Photos)
Saturday’s Santa Barbara Breakers game had a new twist to it, as the Ventura Jets and the Breakers met at Girsh Park for an outdoor clash in a classic – but extremely windy – playground setting.
The Breakers took the WCBL tilt 68-63, upping their season record to 2-1.
Santa Barbara's Tony Rowe gets to the basket for the layup
“It didn’t feel much like real basketball but at the same time it was fun to get to know everybody,” said Breakers point guard Justin Joyner, who just finished up his NCAA career at UCSB.
Joyner started at point guard for the Breakers. Jerry Dupree was Santa Barbara’s leading scorer with 22 points and Tim Taylor dropped in 17.
Pickering sought to create a basketball game alà Rucker Park in New York City. The outdoor setting was picturesque, but a consistent wind and strong gusts made outside shooting an adventure.
“(The wind) took away a lot of what some of our players, like Tim Taylor, like to do, which is drive to the hole – but it was packed in and it was hard to shoot,” Pickering explained.
To get an idea of the effect the wind had on an outside shot, the two teams combined to make only 13-of-51 free throws.
Pickering said if the Breakers were to do it again, it would be scheduled later in the season when the weather has less of a chance to interfere.
Ventura was led in scoring by Austin Okuson’s 22. Dos Pueblos’ varsity girls basketball coach Jelani Hicks is in his second season with the Jets and contributed seven points.
Keith Closs added eight points for Santa Barbara.
The Breakers return to action on Saturday, hosting the Los Angeles Loop at SBCC at 4 p.m.
Go Jelani Hicks and the DP Chargers!!!!