Santa Barbara High boys basketball clinched at least a share of the Channel League title with an 84-57 rout of Ventura High on Friday inside J.R. Richards Gym.
The Dons (18-8, 12-1 Channel League) will host Rio Mesa for their regular-season finale on Monday at 7 p.m. If they win that game, they will be crowned outright league champions.
The Santa Barbara High offense was firing early, with Levi Oakes leading the charge with 16 first-half points to help his team build up a 47-27 lead.
The Dons turned up the defensive intensity out of the break, holding Ventura scoreless for the first five minutes of the third to pull away for the eventual win.
Oakes finished the night with 18 points, while Owen Horn chipped in 14 in a game where 11 of 13 Dons found the bottom of the bucket.
“We showed a lot of maturity in how we started the game, how we came out to begin the second half, and how all 13 players finished the game,” Santa Barbara High head coach Greg Zuffelato said.
“I’m very proud of how this young team has grown and matured. The team is in a very good place heading into the playoffs.”
San Marcos 63, Buena 42
The Royals secured their eighth win in a row and clinched a 20-win season with a league victory over the Bulldogs on Friday in Ventura.
“Really sloppy game in the first half from us, but happy to get out of there with a win,” San Marcos head coach Matt Jordan said. “Buena played super hard tonight and showed a ton of fight. Credit to them.”
Aidan Conlan caught fire on the offensive end for the Royals, leading the team with 24 points. Meanwhile, Koji Hefner tallied 21 points and Brody Green ended the night with 11.
“Koji and Aidan carried us offensively, but I thought it was Benny Huerta’s energy and effort that propelled us to make a really big run in the third quarter,” Jordan said.
“Benny is probably our best perimeter defender when it comes to technique and knowing where to be. He’s beloved on our team and I’m so happy I get to coach him another year.”
San Marcos (20-6, 11-2 Channel League) will round out the regular season at home against Pacifica on Monday at 7 p.m. for Senior Night.
Santa Ynez 66, Righetti 46
The Pirates rolled to a 20-point win over Righetti on Friday.
Mason Skidmore dropped a team-high 22 points, while Jude Pritchard (17), Lucas Ollenburger (12) and Gael Villalobos (11) all reached double-figures as well.