The CIF-Southern Section Division 1 boys basketball semifinal clash between Santa Barbara High and Mira Costa pits two teams that possess great chemistry, senior-heavy rosters, playoff experience and talented student-athletes from the local neighborhoods.
The Dons (26-5) and second-seeded Mustangs (28-3) meet Saturday at 7 p.m. in Manhattan Beach for a spot in next weekend’s final against either Los Alamitos or Crean Lutheran.
Mira Costa was anticipating a rematch with Mater Dei, which two years ago rallied from a 20-point first-half deficit and beat the Mustangs in the Division 1 semifinals. Many of this year’s seniors were on that team.
Santa Barbara spoiled the rematch plans by taking down perennial power Mater Dei, 75-70, in overtime in the quarterfinals. The Dons used their recipe of good ball movement and three-point shooting on offense — they made 16 three-pointers — and tough man-to-man defense to wear down Mater Dei.
UC Santa Barbara commit Luke Zuffelato led four players in double figures with 28 points, Diesel Lowe scored 14, DJ Wilson had 12 on four treys and sophomore Owen Horn added 11 points. Carter Battle spearheaded the defensive effort against the taller Monarchs.
Mira Costa doesn’t have the size of Mater Dei, but it’s a tight group that plays with great cohesion and grit. The core group of seniors includes 6-foot-7 forward Eneasi Piuleini, 6-2 point guard Christian Kranz, 6-8 center Luke Hammerschmidt, 6-4 swing man Jacob Darmas and 6-5 forward McCarthy Bender.
Six-year coach Neal Permutter, who guided West Torrance to a CIF-SS 4AA Division title in 2017, said this year’s Mira Costa squad is the best team he’s ever coached.
“Top to bottom, this team has more depth, more scoring and, with our full-court press, the ability to dominate other teams,” he told the Easy Reader of Hermosa Beach.
“It’s the time of the year where you either put up or you get eliminated,” he added. “That’s the luxury of having eight seniors and guys who have been there.”
Like Mira Costa, Santa Barbara is battle-tested. The Dons posted an incredible win over CIF-SS Open Division playoff team Sierra Canyon on Zuffelato’s buzzer-beating three-pointer to go with playoff victories over No. 6 seed St. Anthony’s, Anaheim-Canyon and No. 3 seed Mater Dei.
Their five losses have come against playoff teams: Davis of Kaysville, Utah (the No. 2 seed in the state’s 6A Division), Daugherty Valley (a North Coast Section Division 1 quarterfinalist), Clovis North (No. 3 seed in Central Section Division 1), Bullard (No. 8 seed in Central Section Division 1) and Oxnard (a Division 2AA playoff team).
They’ve won 13 straight since the Channel League loss at Oxnard.
The last time Santa Barbara made a CIF-SS final was in 2016, when they won the 2A title under Dave Bregante.