Justine Katz was as efficient as they come Monday night at Sovine Gymnasium.
The junior guard scored a career-high 28 points on 11-for-17 shooting from the field, as she led the Dos Pueblos High School girls’ basketball team to a commanding 69-35 win over crosstown rival Santa Barbara.
“It was a really good feeling tonight,” Katz told Noozhawk after the game.
“It feels positive and the energy is flowing and it’s probably one of the best feelings to be with your team and be all happy, celebrating with them.”
With the win, the Chargers improved to 3-3 overall and, more importantly, get a 2-0 start to Channel League play. The Dons fell to 1-8 on the season with an 0-2 start to conference play.
After the win, Katz was also quick to credit her teammates for the impressive win, adding that she believes her squad will “go far” this season.
“It feels good to score, but I think it’s more of a team thing,” Katz said.
“We all work together and I think when one person is scoring, it kind of has an effect on the team as a whole.”
Along with her points, Katz added seven boards, two assists and a pair of steals.
“People see this as something happening now when the lights are on, but this is something that’s been going on for years within her development,” DP coach Manny Murillo said.
“Basketball has changed. She’s our tallest player, but she’s not our center. She runs the point. The ability to be able to handle the ball, see over other players when she’s handling the ball, I think really helps her scoring.”
Murillo said Katz was a bit hesitant to truly become the team’s leading scorer, but with losses to graduation of Lily Mires, Leila Chisholm and Ariana Tapia, someone needed to step up.
“That was a lot of firepower that we lost, but she’s doing a great job,” Murillo said, adding that ultimately, “as a collective group, they all did well.”
Katz was the leading scorer, but overall the Chargers had four scorers in double figures on Monday night.
Evette Allen, DP’s lone senior, dominated down low, scoring 14 points, followed by junior Gianna Nichols who added 13. Carly Letendre, a freshman, poured in 12 points, also knocking down two shots from deep. In total, the Chargers nailed seven 3-pointers.
“When I first got here, I just stressed defense. But, on offense we were going to share. Everybody’s going to get opportunities and that’s how we’re going to be able to compete in this league. It’s a tough league,” Murillo said.
“The unselfish play is the kind of the culture that we want to really have your DP. It doesn’t matter who gets the numbers, who scores the most, just as long as we play together, play hard and get the win.”
Santa Barbara was led by Dayzia Mendoza, who scored 16 points followed by Aleena Padilla who added another eight.
Santa Barbara coach Andrew Butcher said Dos Pueblos was “really good in transition, and we just struggled getting back.”
“We’ve got an exceptionally young team and league started a month early this year, so we’re taking our licks out there, but it’s just learning from every game, learning from the mistakes, and getting better,” Butcher said.
“That’s just the process and DP played really well and I want to congratulate them and hopefully they’ll help us get better because they do a lot of great things.”
Santa Barbara struggled a bit with Dos Pueblos’ press early, turning the ball over six times in the first quarter. Katz said the Chargers usually save their press until the second half, but wanted to jump on the Dons early.
Santa Barbara trailed 10-7 early, keeping it close with buckets from Mendoza, but the Chargers used an 8-0 run over the final 3:10 to take an 18-7 lead after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, both teams traded baskets, but a pair of free throws from Letendre gave DP a 31-17 lead with under a minute left.
Then, a crucial turnover by Santa Barbara with 20 seconds left gave Dos Pueblos a good opportunity and Katz cashed in with a great pass to Letendre who knocked down the triple to give her team a 34-17 lead.
But, Mendoza would answer with a heave from half-court to keep her team within 14 at the break.
The third quarter belonged to Katz.
She scored eight of the teams’ 15 in the third, including four of the first six points of the frame to help her team take a 20-point lead.
Santa Barbara would trail by 17 heading into the fourth, but from there, DP was able to impress their will and take home the commanding 34-point win.
Dos Pueblos next contest is at Cabrillo in a Thursday non-league tilt while Santa Barbara hosts Oxnard Wednesday for its third Channel League contest of the season.