Santa Barbara High’s girls basketball team defeated Hanford West on Wednesday night 65-54 to advance to the second round of the CIF Division 3 State Tournament.
The Dons (25-8) won all four quarters. Hanford took an early lead until Santa Barbara took the lead for good mid-way through the opening period. Santa Barbara’s biggest lead in the first half was nine.
Dessy Coleman led Santa Barbara with 19 points, six steals and five rebounds, while Ivette Gill added 16 points and seven rebounds and freshman Amber Melgoza went for 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Melissa Lemus added seven points and 12 assists to help pace the offense.
Santa Barbara coach Andrew Butcher said Hanford West had a big, loud crowd. “It was nice to perform well in that environment where we maybe had 10 fans there,” he said.
The Huskies (27-7), the Central Section Division 3 champion, closed the gap to 33-31 and 37-35 in the third quarter but never regained the lead.
The Dons advances to play second-seeded Chaminade, 83-47 winners over Eagle Rock, in Saturday’s second round. The lost to Chaminade twice in December, the second time by two points.
