So, after getting beat 71-39 by one of the best girls basketball teams in the country, coach Andrew Butcher told his previously undefeated Santa Barbara High team that it reached a new stage in the season.
“It’s not the end of the season,” he said. “Today, is the first day of the rest of the season.”
The Dons were run out of J.R. Richards Gym by a strong, athletic, fast, experienced Sierra Canyon team on Saturday in a winner’s bracket game of the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions. The Trailblazers left vapor trails on the court as they turned blocked shots, turnovers and defensive rebounds into fast breaks for high percentage shots. Their NCAA Division 1 signees, Kennedy Burke (UCLA) and Cheyanne Wallace (Loyola Marymount), each scored 21 points and speed-burning guard Ryann Payne added 11, including couple dazzling drives through the lane for layups.
“My girls step up to challenges and I challenged them before the game,” Sierra Canyon coach Alicia Komaki said. “We knew Amber (Melgoza) was averaging 36 points a game and we wanted to make her shots tough. We wanted to step up, and I challenged them that I felt (Santa Barbara) wanted to play us in this tournament, and they chose to play us in the second round.”
From the first play of the game, a blocked shot, Sierra Canyon was all over Santa Barbara (9-1). The Trailblazers blocked five shots in the first quarter. Burke ignited a 14-0 run with a spectacular play, swatting an outside shot attempt, chasing down the ball and taking it in for a layup. Wallace then went off for five straight baskets before the Dons scored on a free throw. That made the score 19-6.
“I tell people all the time that they are the best duo in the country,” Komaki said of the 6-1 Burke and Wallace.
It got worse from there for Santa Barbara. An 11-2 Sierra Canyon run to start the second quarter stretched its lead to 40-14. It was 48-20 at halftime.
“I think that was the best I’ve seen my team play in three years,” said Komaki, who’s guided Sierra Canyon to two straight state titles.
Melgoza scored 28 points to lead Santa Barbara, but it was a tough 28.
Butcher said he was disappointed his team didn’t rise up to the challenge.
“The first half we didn’t compete,” he said. “I don’t care what the score is, but if things aren’t going well you got to make plays and bring your intensity up. Mentally and physically we didn’t perform well.”
He said playing an elite team like Sierra Canyon expose weaknesses.
“That I really don’t mind, that’s a learning thing. But you got to compete, you got to make plays,” he said.
The Dons will take the lessons they learned from the defeat to their next tournament game on Monday at 3 p.m. against Carondelet of Concord. Carondelet lost to Redondo Union 42-37.
Redondo Union will play Sierra Canyon in a championship semifinal game at 7:30 p.m.
Redondo’s Ami Nyingifa scored four straight points in the last two minutes, and the Seahawks played some tough defense to slip Carondolet. With the score 38-37, Nyingifa scored off an assist from Megan Peneueta and then stole the ball for a layup. She had eight of her 11 points in the fourth quarter. Redondo’s defense contained Carondolet’s top scorers Vanessa Cruz and Katie Rathbun.
Ventura outfought Vista Murrieta, 59-51, to advance to the Gold Division semifinals. The Cougars got 15 points from sophomore Aubrey Knight, including six in the fourth quarter. Reagan Flippo also scored six points in the final period. Vista Murrieta got 18 points each from Brittany Reed and McKenzie Kramer.
Ventura plays Ventura County foe Oaks Christian in the 6 p.m. semifinal on Monday. Oaks Christian held off Mission Hills of the San Diego Section, 51-45.
GREEN DIVISION
Bishop Diego 49, San Marcos 21
The Cardinals led 20-2 after the first quarter and 31-7 at halftime in the consolation round game.
“I was very happy with the shot selection we had,” said Bishop coach Jeff Burich. “Summer Soto and Deja Goodwin both hit some nice shots in the quarter.”
Hannah Rogers scored 15 points and Jordyn Lilly had 14 for Bishop (6-2), which bounced back from a narrow loss against Arroyo Grande in the first round.
Burich lauded the defensive work of Morgan Wallace.
The Cardinals (6-2) play Santa Monica on Monday at noon in the consolation semifinals.
In other Green Division action, Samantha Clement scored 16 points and Tristen Rollon added 12 to lead top-seeded Fairmont Prep past Arroyo Grande, 42-37. Ashlyn Herlihy scored 22 for the Eagles. Edison got 16 points form Erin Hitomi in a 48-42 win over Rio Mesa. Mimi Woodson had 17 points and Vann Morga 15, leading Montomery past Pioneer Valley, 54-41
Santa Ynez broke open a one-point game (23-22) at halftime by scoring 38 points in the second half of a 61-44 victory. Sophia Ibarra led a balanced attack with 17 points, Hannah Cantrell added 15. Imanni Maxwell knocked down six 3-pointers and scored 22 points to lead Santa Monica over Nipomo 52-46. San Luis Obispo beat Oak Park, 61-44, behind 19 points from Natalia DeMartini.
