GAME PREVIEW: This is the third meeting between the two crosstown rivals this season with Santa Barbara claiming the first two by a combined total of just four points.
The Royals, this time on their home floor in the Thunderhut, look to get back at the Dons and at the same time even their Channel League record. Santa Barbara sits in second place in league play with a 6-3 record and has won 4 of its last 5 games.
The highly anticipated matchup sold out in advance of tonight’s game.
San Marcos’ Thayer White has averaged 17.5 points per game in the first two meetings with Santa Barbara this season while Emilio Gonzalez has been tops for Santa Barbara in those two games with 16 ppg.
GAME OVER: San Marcos takes this one 48-40. Postgame interviews and game story coming soon.
1:19 TO GO: A Thayer White layup pushed San Marcos’ lead back up to six and then two free throws from Paxton Ridgway created even more wiggle room for the Royals. Royals lead 41-33.
4:01 REMAINING IN GAME: Maybe these two teams are just destined to play close games this season. San Marcos built a 12-point lead early in the fourth quarter but the Dons have just tore off eight straight points to make it 37-33.
END OF THIRD QUARTER: The Royals held off a run by Santa Barbara in the third quarter. Santa Barbara cut the lead to three points but the Royals were able to push the lead back to eight at 33-25 by the end of the third period. The Royals student section has been extremely loud and supportive of its team and the players seem to be feeding off their energy.
4:15 ON CLOCK IN THIRD QUARTER: After over three minutes of no scoring to begin the second half, Sam Cohen converts 1-of-2 free throws to cut San Marcos’ lead to 21-15. Then the two teams exchanged baskets and the score is now 23-18.
HALFTIME: The two rivals enter the intermission with the home team holding a 21-14 lead. Cade Ridenour, who leads all scorers with 14 points, drained his third 3-pointer of the half to give the Royals a 21-12 lead. But an Andy Busch layup gave two points back to Santa Barbara. San Marcos outscored the Dons 12-5 in the second period and has its large fanbase happy at halftime.
4:11 REMAINING IN FIRST HALF: Cade Ridenour and the San Marcos Royals are having a quality second quarter. Ridenour has six points in the quarter and 11 for the game already as San Marcos has taken an 18-9 lead. The Dons have been unable to score since the opening quarter.
INJURY UPDATE: Emilio Gonzalez is back on the court at the start of the second period. The Royals score three quick points to go up 12-9.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: It’s all even after one with the score tied at 9-9. Santa Barbara looked like it could have lost Emilio Gonzalez for the night as the junior forward hobbled off the court with 1:55 on the clock with what looked like a right-ankle injury.
FIRST ACTION: Emilio Gonzalez knocks down a 3-pointer on Santa Barbara’s second possession for an early 3-0 lead. San Marcos’ first points come when Thayer White draws a shooting foul and makes one of two free throws. Dons up 3-1 with 6:17 left in the first quarter.
PRE-GAME UPDATE: The San Marcos student section is much-larger than the Dons side. San Marcos only made a few hundred tickets available to Santa Barbara High so it should be a one-sided crowd.
It’s senior night for the Royals, and head coach Jarrod Bradley introduced Cade Ridenour, Spencer Johnson, Thayer White, and Chad Ridenour. The four seniors, along with their parents, met at halfcourt to loud applause.
