Sierra Canyon earned the 2013 Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions championship on Saturday. (Presidio Sports Photo)
Kennedy Burke helped Sierra Canyon shake off an anemic first-half offensive performance and sparked the Trailblazers to a 53-40 girls basketball win over Redondo for the championship of the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions on Saturday night at J.R. Richards Gym.
Burke scored 12 of her game-high 21 points in the third quarter, as Sierra Canyon took control of the game after trailing 15-11 at halftime. Burke was named the tournament MVP.
Cheyanne Wallace scored 13 points and Gabi Nevill added 12, including two big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, for the undefeated Trailblazers (9-0), the defending CIF State Division 5 champions.
Nao Shiota led Redondo with nine points.
SANTA BARBARA 54, RIO MESA 37
Santa Barbara High finished its Tournament of Champions on a winning note, beating Rio Mesa 54-37, to take the consolation championship on Saturday.
It was the third straight win for the Dons, who lost their opener to eventual tournament champion Sierra Canyon.
Santa Barbara’s defense set the tone for the win. The Dons quartet of Amber Melgoza, Jocelin Petatan, Jada Howard and Dezzy Coleman combined for 16 steals, led by Petatan’s six.
Melgoza paced the offense with 18 points and four assists. She also grabbed nine rebounds. Petatan added 13 points, Howard scored six points and Coleman contributed nine points.
Santa Barbara improves to 10-2.
