channel league 205

SoCal Prep & High School Report

Santa Barbara Report: Other Channel
League Games--(February 5, 1998)

In addition to the Dos Pueblos v. Rio Mesa game, there were three other Channel League contests on Wednesday, February 4. Here are the line scores, followed by the results:

San Marcos 74, Santa Barbara 54
Oxnard 55, Buena 31
Hueneme 81, Ventura 74

Here's the San Marcos report first, followed by the others:

San Marcos High is having possibly its best basketball season ever. The Royals hammered Santa Barbara 74-54 in a Channel League game at the Thunderhut. Senior forward Brook Billings, who avoided punching anyone in the groin on Wednesday night, led a balanced attack with 17 points, including three 3-pointers. Sonny Oden added 13 points while Randy Moharram and Art Gutierrez each had 12 as the Royals improved to 9-2 in league and 18-4 overall. Santa Barbara drops to 7-4 and 15-8. Senior forward Jordan McOwen added six points and nine rebounds. San Marcos went on an 11-3 run to close the first quarter and an 11-0 run at the start of the second period to build a 20-point lead. After Santa Barbara cut the margin to 45-34 early in the second half, the Royals responded with a 14-2 run to close the third quarter.

For SB, junior forward Tony Freeman had a strong all-around game with 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots. But Billings - who also had 10 rebounds and three blocked shots - gave the Dons an omen of things to come when he drilled his first 3-pointer to make the score 19-11.

As the Santa Barbara News Press quoted Santa Barabra coach Lavender: "Since when does the 6-6 guy start hitting 3-pointers?''

At least he wasn't hitting other players.

San Marcos' Moharram was also nearly perfect at point guard, collecting six assists but also contributing to several other scores with his error-free ball movement. Santa Barbara's strongest attempt to stage a comeback began in the third period when Johnny Ortiz hit a 3-pointer and followed with a driving layup. After a 3-pointer by Billings, J. R. Allen scored and Freeman hit two free throws to make it 45-34.

San Marcos coach Hantgin, whose team blew a first half lead the last time the Royals played the Dons, was concerned. So much so, that according to the News-Press, he made a "purposely demonstrative protest of a foul call to officials", and drew a technical. The T gave his team some incentive to get a bit more fired up.

And even if the T wasn't "staged" but instead genuine, it did get San Marcos' attention. Thereafter when play resumed, Oden and Moharram combined for three free throws and Billings added a short jumper and a 3-pointer to make the score 53-36. McOwen scored on an assist from Oden and Gutierrez and Moharram added four more points to close the quarter. Another layup by McOwen and back-to-back baskets by Matt James pushed the lead to 65-36. A switch to a zone defense also may have helped the Royals.

Ortiz finished with 10 points for Santa Barbara while Tyler Burke had 11 - all in the fourth quarter. The Dons were also below full strength because Sean Kelley, a starter had the flu.

The final scoring for Santa Barbara was Ortiz with 10 including 2 threes, Worzella 5 (one three pointer), Burke 11 including 3 threes, Freeman 16, Christ 2, Allen 9, and James with 1 point.

For San Marcos, the scoring was led by Billings with 17 (including 3 three pointers), Moharram with 12, Gutierrez 12 (one three), Arndt 4, Oden 13 (one three), McOwen 6, James 4, and Nance with 6 points.

Oxnard 55, Buena 31

The Oxnard High boys' basketball team kept its playoff hopes alive with a 55-31 Channel League victory over Buena Wednesday night on the road. Damian Tafoya scored 23 points and Jeff Fouchey 18 for Oxnard (13-8 overall, 7-4 league). Buena (0-11, 3-20) had a season-low game for points. Tafoya scored 11 points in the first quarter and 10 in the third quarter. He made four 3-pointers. Fouchey grabbed 11 rebounds and Jacob Galloway passed out 14 assists.

Hueneme 81, Ventura 74

Robert Collins had 30 points, including six 3-pointers, for Hueneme. Jeff Staniland countered with 30 points for Ventura (6-16, 3-8). Hueneme pulled away with a 26-point fourth quarter.