Chargers take down Dons in 3rd place playoff match

Kristen Gowdy led the Chargers with 22 points against Santa Barbara. (Vince Agapito Photo)

The Dos Pueblos High girls basketball team defeated Santa Barbara 64-42 at home in a playoff match that determined third place in the Channel League.

Both teams finished league play with a 3-5 record, which put them in a tie for the third and final playoff spot. Even though the two teams compete in different divisions for the postseason, CIF ruled that a game must be played to determine an automatic qualifier.

Santa Barbara will also be admitted into the playoffs, but as an at-large team.

Kristen Gowdy led the Chargers with 22 points while Jasmine Mata added 14 more. Taryn Ouellette provided a spark off the bench and finished with eight points while Talitha Draper was a force inside with eight points and 11 rebounds.

The two teams faced each other earlier this week in Santa Barbara, with the Dons emerging victorious.

“They did a very good job of bouncing back,” Dos Pueblos head coach Jelani Hicks said about his team. “They competed and showed a lot of heart.”

Both teams will find out their playoff draws on Sunday afternoon.