Santa Barbara High’s girls basketball team took a taller Chaminade down to the wire in the championship game of the Gold Coast Classic and came out on the short end of 59-57 decision at Rio Mesa High on Saturday night.
Santa Barbara trailed throughout the game. The Dons were behind 26-12 after the first quarter and were down by 10 entering the fourth quarter. But they fought back behind the play of Ivette Gil and Dessy Coleman and tied the score at 57-57 on a short jumper by Gil, who had 10 points in the quarter. Coleman scored eight.
The Dons had a chance to go ahead with 14 seconds left but they missed a layup under duress. Chaminade gained possession after a scramble on the rebound and scored on a follow-up basket as time ran out.
On Thursday, the Dons lost to Chaminade 69-56.
Gil scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Dons. Coleman had 16 points and helped hold Chaminade’s UCSB-bound center Mi’Chael Wright to 14 points.
Melissa Lemus contributed seven points, five steals and three assists for Santa Barbara.
Lemus and Gil were named to the all-tournament team, and Wright was selected the tourney MVP.
Santa Barbara falls to 5-2 while Chaminade improves to 6-1.
