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Emilio Gonzalez drives the lane on his way to two of his 23 points. He also made five of the Dons’ 13 3-pointers. (Agapito)
San Marcos made the biggest plays on Wednesday night, but Santa Barbara High took home the Channel League victory as the Dons survived a pair of last second buzzer-beaters from the Royals in a double-overtime 73-71 triumph at SBCC’s Sports Pavilion.
“That was so much fun to play in,” said Dons forward Andy Busch. “Crazy. It was really awesome.”
A big crowd was entertained by San Marcos’ ability to hit the last-second shot and the Dons’ deadly shooting from start to finish.
The Royals never led in the second half or either overtime and still managed to force a pair of extra periods thanks to a 3-pointer by Ian Douglas at the end of regulation and an offensive-rebound putback by Thayer White at the end of the first overtime.
Santa Barbara didn’t allow it to happen a third time, with Emilio Gonzalez hauling in a rebound on a missed three-pointer from San Marcos in the final seconds of the second overtime. Gonzalez also knocked down the game-winning shot, which came with over a minute to go, on a jumper that needed some friendly bounces before it went in.
Although it became a tough battle, the Dons never trailed after the first quarter on their way to claiming their second Channel League win without a loss. The Dons can go to 3-0 on Friday at Dos Pubelos. That after two years of failing to win a league game at all.
“It means so much to us,” Gonsalez said after beating the Royals for the first time.
Thayer White led all scorers with 29 points and had a hand in both buzzer-beaters for the Royals.
The weapon of choice for the Dons was the 3-pointer. Thirteen of them were fatal for the Royals. Gonzalez, with five, and Angel Lopez, 4, seemed to be there with a long-ball every time the Royals got close in the second half.
Santa Barbara looked like it would win the game in regulation after a Gonzalez finger roll gave the Dons a 56-50 lead with two minutes on the clock. Chad Ridenour halved the lead on one of San Marcos’ nine 3-pointers in the game.
Douglas’ three was on a second-chance opportunity, as Thayer White recorded a rebound and an assist on the play after the Royals missed their first attempt.
White’s nose for the ball came up big again in the overtime. This time, the senior rebounded another miss and put it back in himself. White finished with 29 points.
The Dons were finally able to close out the Royals in the second overtime.
“The game came down to us not being able to guard their perimeter shooters,” said Royals head coach Jarrod Bradley. “At the beginning of the game, they were really killing us inside, so we really tried to pack it in, then they spread us out.”
The Royals are 8-7 overall and 1-2 in league. Santa Barbara is 7-7, 2-0.
SANTA BARBARA 73, SAN MARCOS 71
SANTA BARBARA – Mikles 7, Fay 10, Busch 13, Wagonhurst 4, Lopez 14, Gonzalez 23, Cohen 2. Totals – 27 FG, 6-9 FT.
SAN MARCOS – White 29, Widmer 2, Chad Ridenour 8, Hempy 2, Douglas 5, Cade Ridenour 17, B. Ridenour 1, Wheelock 3, Ridgway 4. Totals – 26 FG, 10-15 FT.
3-pointers – SB 13 (Gonzalez 5, Lopez 4, Mikles) SM 9 (White 2, Chad Ridenour 2, Cade Ridenour 3, Douglas, Wheelock) Total Fouls – SM 14, SB 13.
SM 16 9 19 12 (10) (5) – 71
SB 20 13 15 8 (10) (7) – 73
