TOP SPORTING EVENTS: JANUARY 20-31
San Marcos High’s gym, popularly known as the Thunderhut, will be the site of Friday night’s (Jan. 21) basketball game between the Royals and the Santa Barbara Dons. Because of limited seating, fans are advised to arrive early.
The crosstown rivals met last month at SBCC, where San Marcos pulled out a 43-42 victory on Johnny Manzo’s free throw with 1.2 seconds remaining. Santa Barbara is still seeking its first Channel League victory (the Dons are 0-6 and 2-16 overall) while San Marcos (2-3, 13-5) is trying to stay in contention for its second straight championship. The teams will meet in a third league game on February 2 at Santa Barbara
Ventura (5-0, 17-2) reigns at the top of the Channel League. Dos Pueblos (3-2, 10-7) will visit the Cougars Friday night.
In college basketball, UCSB has a chance to gain ground on Long Beach State in the Big West men’s standings, but the Gauchos will have to win Saturday night at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Gym – where Long Beach State suffered its first conference loss Wednesday night. Fullerton defeated the 49ers, 89-87. Long Beach is now 6-1 in the conference, while UCSB is 3-2.
The Gaucho women will host Cal State Fullerton at 2 p.m. Saturday. Westmont College is traveling to Irvine Concordia on Saturday and will host Biola on Tuesday.
Thursday, January 20
High school girls water polo – Buena at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 p.m.
High school boys soccer – Buena at Santa Barbara, 5 p.m.
High school girls soccer – Ventura at San Marcos, 5 p.m.
High school girls basketball – Dos Pueblos at San Marcos, 7 p.m.
High school wrestling – Ventura at Dos Pueblos, 7 p.m.
Friday, January 21
High school boys basketball – Santa Barbara at San Marcos, 7 p.m.
Saturday, January 22
High school boys basketball – Besant Hill at Laguna Blanca, 2 p.m.
College women’s basketball – Cal State Fullerton at UCSB, 2 p.m.; Westmont at Concordia, 5:30 p.m.
College men’s basketball – UCSB at Cal State Fullerton, 6:05 p.m.; Westmont at Concordia, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, January 24
Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon, Harry’s Plaza Café, 12 p.m.
High school boys basketball – Ventura at Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, January 25
College women’s basketball – Biola at Westmont, 5:30 p.m.
High school boys basketball – Cate at Laguna Blanca, 6 p.m.
High school girls basketball – Oak Park at Bishop Diego, 7 p.m.
High school girls soccer – Santa Barbara at San Marcos, 5 p.m.; Ventura at Dos Pueblos, 5 p.m.
High school boys soccer – Santa Barbara at San Marcos, 7 p.m.
College men’s basketball – Biola at Westmont, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 26
High school girls basketball – Dunn at Cate, 3 p.m.; Providence Hall at Laguna Blanca, 5:30 p.m.
College men’s basketball – Cuesta at SBCC, 5 p.m.
College women’s basketball – Cuesta at SBCC, 7 p.m.
High school boys basketball – Villanova at Carpinteria, 7 p.m.
Thursday, January 27
High school girls water polo – Buena at Santa Barbara, 3:15 p.m.; Ventura at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 p.m.
College men’s basketball – UCSB at Cal Poly, 7 p.m.
College women’s basketball – Cal Poly at UCSB, 7 p.m.
High school girls basketball – Buena at Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.; Ventura at San Marcos, 7 p.m.; Nordhoff at Bishop Diego, 7 p.m.; Villanova at Carpinteria, 7 p.m.
Friday, January 28
College women’s water polo – Michigan at UCSB, 11 a.m.; Concordia (Calif.) at UCSB, 3:30 p.m.
College men’s volleyball – Pepperdine at UCSB, Robertson Gym, 7 p.m.
High school boys basketball – San Marcos at Dos Pueblos, 7 p.m.; Malibu at Bishop Diego, 7 p.m.
Saturday, January 29
College swimming – Pacific and UC Davis at UCSB, 11 a.m.
College women’s water polo – Cal State Bakersfield at UCSB, 12 p.m.; San Diego State at UCSB, 4:40 p.m.
College women’s basketball – UCSB at Cal State Northridge, 4 p.m.; Moorpark at SBCC, 5 p.m.; Westmont at Point Loma Nazarene, 5:30 p.m.
College men’s basketball – Moorpark at SBCC, 5 p.m.; Cal State Northridge at UCSB, 7 p.m.; Westmont at Point Loma Nazarene, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 30
College women’s tennis – Northern Arizona at UCSB, 10 a.m.
College women’s water polo – UC San Diego at UCSB, 11:30 a.m.; UC Irvine at UCSB, 3:10 p.m.
Monday, January 31
Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon, Harry’s Plaza Café, 12 p.m.
High school girls basketball – Providence Hall at Laguna Blanca, 6 p.m.
SPECIAL EVENT
Friday, January 28 – “A Night with an Angel,” dinner featuring L.A. Angels manager Mike Scioscia, Cabrillo Arts Center, 6 p.m. Benefit the UCSB Gaucho Fund to improve Caesar Uyesaka Stadium for the Gauchos and Santa Barbara Foresters. Reservations: Christina Beglas, 805-893-5372.
FOR RUNNERS
Saturday, January 29 – Romeo’s 4 Miler, UCSB Lagoon, 9 a.m. ucsbruns.com.
Sunday, February 6 – Super Bowl 4 Miler, Stow Grove Park, 9 a.m. sbactionpro.com.
Sunday, February 27 – Independent Roses en la Playa 5K, Leadbetter Beach, 9 a.m. sbactionpro.com.