Top-ranked Santa Barbara High put the pedal to the metal and blew past Buena, 64-49, in a Channel League girls basketball game on Thursday night at JR Richard Gym.
Amber Melgoza poured in 32 points on 11 of 17 shooting and grabed 13 rounds to pace the Dons (17-3, 2-1), the No. 1 team in CIF-SS Division 3A.
Melgoza scored off fast breaks, drives to the basket, offensive rebounds and from the perimeter.
“They were draped all over her and she still managed to score,” Santa Barbara coach Andrew Butcher said. “She was just tough today. It was impressive.”
With the Dons running at every opportunity, Buena couldn’t set up its press.
“We got a lot of transition baskets,” Butcher said. “I don’t want to be boastful, but our fast break is pretty good. It takes teams a quarter to adjust to it.”
Santa Barbara roared out to a 21-7 lead after the first quarter.
Dezzy Coleman, who sat out most of the third period in foul trouble, finished with 12 points, six steals and four assists. Jocelin Petatan adddd 10 points and freshman Kimberly Gebhardt scored seven points and pulled down 12 rebounds.
“That was critical,” Butcher said of Gebhardt’s work on the boards.
The win was Santa Barbara’s fourth straight over Buena over the last two seasons.
