Santa Barbara Blazers claim two titles at Swoosh Spring Classic

SB Blazers Gold High School team takes 1st place with the help of coaches Jerry Howard, Andy Casanueva and Paulina Lilly.

SB Blazers Gold High School team takes 1st place with the help of coaches Jerry Howard, Andy Casanueva and Paulina Lilly.

The Santa Barbara Blazers Gold and Silver teams won both high school divisions last weekend at the Thunderdome.

The Blazers put 4 teams into last weekend?s Swoosh Spring Classic – HS Gold, HS Silver, 8th grade and 7/8th grade – and won both HS divisions.

HS Blazers Gold, led by Bishop sophomore Jordyn Lilly and Santa Barbara freshman Jada Howard, took the Championship over Bakersfield Heat 32-25 at UCSB?s Thunderdome.

SB Blazers Silver High School team takes 1st place with the help of Coach Andy Casanueva.

SB Blazers Silver High School team takes 1st place with the help of Coach Andy Casanueva.

The Blazers dominated the game. Bakersfield tied the game at 10-10 with 2:21 to play in the 1st half, but then a 3pt play by Lilly and steal by Dos Pueblos sophomore Jocelin Petatan who gave it to Santa Barbara junior Alyssa Cosio for 2, put the game at 15-10.

The 2nd half began with another quick score from Cosio and steal from Howard that led to a layup from Dos Pueblos’ Brandi Jimenez and the Blazers never looked back.

On the way to the championship the Blazers beat the highly respected RC Bulls 37-23 and AG Eagles 46-33 in the semi-finals.

Completing the team were Dos Pueblos sophomore Hallie Magee, Santa Barbara freshman Lillian Palacio, Bishop junior Sam Guasch, Bishop sophomore Hannah Rogers, 8th grader Kimberly Gebhardt, and 7th grader Amber Belletti.

HS Blazers Silver, which was led by Santa Barbara High sophomore Xochitl Torres-Lopez, came out on top with thrilling games in the semis and championship. The semi-final game over PYC Rebels ended with a dramatic last second shot by Dons freshman Lillian Palacio on the baseline to seal a 32-30 win after Torres-Lopez tied the game on a 3 pointer from the top of the key.

The Blazers then pulled a dramatic come from behind win 35-32 over the SB Ballers. Trailing by 1 with 1:03 to play they pulled ahead after Dos Pueblos sophomore NJ Jeeva rebounded and put it in for a 33-32 lead with 40 seconds to play. The Blazers then got a steal from DP freshman Devan Staggs who passed to Torres-Lopez was fouled intentionally with 8 seconds left in the game and made both free throws which sealed the deal. The Blazers were led by 8th grader Holly Barrera?s 11 points.

The team was rounded out by Sam Guasch, Brooke Heller, Andrea Fairfield, Gwennie McInnes, Sophia Martinez & Camila Casanueva.