PRE-GAME INTRO: The two crosstown rivals meet for the fourth time this season (third time in league play) in a highly-anticipated Channel League matchup.
Noah Burke’s half-court buzzer-beater in overtime decided the last game in favor of the Dons.
There is a lot on the line tonight as the two teams share first place in the league standings at 7-3. The winner tonight controls its own destiny for a league championship.
San Marcos comes into the game with a 16-7 record while Santa Barbara is 18-4.
FOURTH QUARTER
GAME OVER – Final Score 60-50. Game story with player and coaches quotes coming soon. Jack Baker leads all scorers with 24 points.
0:59 LEFT IN GAME – The Dons are making their free throws and have opened up a 57-44 lead with 59.4 seconds on the clock. The Dons players are starting to celebrate on the bench and the San Marcos cheerleaders just packed up and walked out the side door.
1:30 LEFT IN GAME – San Marcos has begun to trap on defense in an effort to force turnovers and make up their deficit quickly as time starts to run out. Two free throws by Ian Douglas just made the score 52-44 in Santa Barbara’s favor.
3:20 REMAINING IN GAME – A 20-foot jump shot by Emilio Gonzalez pushed Santa Barbara’s lead to double digits at 48-37 and the Dons seem to be in control with three minutes to play.
5:30 REMAINING IN GAME – Santa Barbara has built its lead back up to 42-33 before Jake Wheelock sank two free throws. But the Royals can’t seem to consistently stop the Dons as Jeff Paschke’s layup pushed the lead back to 9.
THIRD QUARTER
END OF PERIOD – Santa Barbara leads 37-28 as both teams scored 14 points each in the third quarter.
2:01 IN THIRD PERIOD – Jack Baker and Kevin Hempy are having their own little scoring battle. Baker leads all scorers with 19 points and Hempy has 17. Dons lead 32-24.
4:11 REMAINING IN THIRD QUARTER – Kevin Hempy is carrying San Marcos. The senior forward has 17 of San Marcos’ 24 points, including 8 points already since halftime. The Royals trail just 28-24.
START OF THIRD – Kevin Hempy gives the Royals the start they wanted with a 3-pointer that pulls the Royals to within six points. But Santa Barbara immediately answers with a 3-pointer of its own followed by a bucket by Baker. Score 28-17 Dons.
SECOND QUARTER
HALFTIME – Dons take a 23-14 lead into the halftime break. Jack Baker leads all scorers with 13 points and blocked a San Marcos shot into the stands. The have dominated the paint. Despite battling foul trouble, Kevin Hempy leads the Royals with nine points.
0:52 Remaining in First Half – Since falling behind 10-0, San Marcos has outscored the Dons 14-13 to make it a 23-14 game. Kevin Hempy has 9 of San Marcos’ 14 points.
3:52 Remaining in First Half – Brendan Fay’s 3-point basket gives Santa Barbara a 19-9 lead, matching the Dons’ biggest of the game. Then Jeff Baker gets another layup to put the Dons up 21-9. Baker has been unstoppable, collecting 13 points already.
END OF FIRST QUARTER – Santa Barbara holds a 12-4 lead. All of their points have come from inside the paint or at the free throw line. Kevin Hempy has all four points for the Royals but is now on the bench with two fouls.
FIRST QUARTER
2:00 – Kevin Hempy finally breaks the ice for the Royals, sinking two free throws with exactly two minutes on the clock. The Dons had started the game on a 10-0 run.
3:00 remaining in first period – The Dons have controlled this game so far on their home court, killing the Royals on the boards. Santa Barbara leads 9-0. Gonzalez and Baker with four points each.
6:20 – Emilio Gonzalez scores the first four points of the game in the paint to give the Dons an early 4-0 lead.
TIP-OFF – San Marcos, dressed in black jerseys with red and blue trim, win the opening tip. Starting for the Royals is Bryce Ridenour, Kevin Hempy, Uriel Hurtado, Christian Widmer and Jake Wheelock. For the Dons, it’s Matt Wagonhurst, Jack Baker, Emilio Gonzalez, Shawn Ramos and Jeff Paschke.
