Bryson Frazer erupted for 20 points in the second half, and Carpinteria turned up its defensive intensity and rallied for a 60-54 basketball win at Fillmore in a Frontier League opener on Friday night.
“It was our defense that ended up winning the game for us,” Carpinteria coach Johnny Ward said. “We buckled down, forced turnovers and attacked the basket instead of settling for more outside shots.”
The Warriors struggled in the early going and fell behind by 12 points. Their defense turned things around midway through the second quarter and they pulled to within two points at halftime. Ward said Mason Picerni and Frazer made big defensive plays to turn the momentum in their favor.
Frazer then made an impact at the offensive end in the second half. He hit three 3-pointers to spark Carpinteria. He finished with 26 points.
The Warriors trailed by one going into the fourth quarter and then went up by five points with two minutes left.
Omar Miranda scored 11 points and Duncan Gordon added nine for Carpinteria (9-6, 1-0).
