Week in Sports
TOP SPORTING EVENTS: DECEMBER 23-JANUARY 2
Santa Barbara High and Dos Pueblos will vie for 13th place in the Tournament of Champions girls basketball tournament after winning their consolation games Thursday. The Dons defeated St. Joseph 59-56, and the Chargers topped Agoura 68-61. Their matchup takes place at 10:45 a.m. today (Fri., Dec. 23) at Dos Pueblos.
Channel League powers Ventura and Buena will meet for the Gold Division championship at 7:30 p.m. at Santa Barbara’s J.R. Richards Gym. The Green Division final at 5:45 p.m. pits Rio Mesa against Pacifica. Providence Hall shoots for 11th place in the division at 10:45 a.m. against Willits at the San Marcos gym. San Marcos plays Nipomo for 15th place in an early morning game.
San Marcos and Bishop Diego will be among the schools hosted by Santa Barbara High in the Holiday Classic boys basketball tournament next week.
In college hoops action, there will be four games each day on December 29-30 at Westmont, which is staging the Tom Byron Classic for the men’s teams and the GSAC Challenge for the women’s.
UCSB’s next games will be Big West Conference openers, both teams playing at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. The Gaucho women take the floor at 4 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. They ended their pre-conference schedule on a high note, stunning Texas El Paso 49-48 on Sweets Underwood’s basket with less then a second to play. It was the Gauchos’ first road victory and ended a 10-game UTEP winning streak. They have a 5-6 record, while Cal Poly is 3-9.
The Gaucho men are 5-5 after dropping their third consecutive game on the road, 89-75 at BYU on Thursday night. They can only hope that their losses against quality teams (San Diego State, UNLV, Washington, and Cal in addition to BYU) will leave them battle-hardened for the Big West. UCSB and Cal Poly (8-4) will square off on January 2 at Mott Gym.
Friday, December 23
High school girls basketball — Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions. Finals at Santa Barbara: Green Division consolation, 10:45 a.m. Gold Division consolation, 12:30 p.m. Green championship, 5:45 p.m. Gold championship, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, December 26
High school boys basketball — Holiday Classic at Santa Barbara: SB JV vs. Burbank Burroughs, 3 p.m. Ocean View vs. Leuzinger, 4:30 p.m.; San Marcos vs. Clovis West, 6 p.m. Santa Barbara vs. Bishop Diego, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 27
High school boys basketball — Holiday Classic at Santa Barbara: Bishop Diego vs. SB JV, 2 p.m. San Marcos vs. Ocean View, 3:30 p.m. Leuzinger vs. Clovis West, 5 p.m. Santa Barbara vs. Burroughs, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 28
High school boys basketball — Holiday Classic at Santa Barbara: Bishop Diego vs. Burroughs, 2 p.m. Clovis West vs. Ocean View, 3:30 p.m. San Marcos vs. Leuzinger, 5 p.m. Santa Barbara vs. SB JV, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 29
High school boys basketball — Holiday Classic at Santa Barbara: 7th place game, 2 p.m. 5th place (consolation), 3:30 p.m. 3rd place, 5 p.m. Championship, 6:30 p.m.
College men’s basketball — Tom Byron Classic at Westmont: UC Merced vs. British Columbia, 3 p.m. Westmont vs. Trinity International (IL), 7:30 p.m.
College women’s basketball — GSAC Challenge at Westmont: San Diego Christian vs. CSU Maritime, 1 p.m. Westmont vs. Pacific Union, 5:30 p.m.
Friday, December 30
College men’s basketball — Tom Byron Classic at Westmont: Consolation game, 3 p.m. Championship, 7:30 p.m.
College women’s basketball — GSAC Challenge at Westmont: San Diego Christian vs. Pacific Union, 1 p.m. Westmont vs. CSU Maritime, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 31
College women’s basketball — UCSB at Cal Poly, 4 p.m.
Monday, January 2
Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon, Harry’s Plaza Café, noon.
College men’s basketball — UCSB at Cal Poly, 7 p.m.
RUNNING, WALKING, CYCLING
Saturday, January 1 — Resolution Day 10K/5K Run, Leadbetter Beach, 8 a.m. active.com.
Sunday, February 5 — Super Bowl 4 Miler, Stow Grove Park, 9 a.m. sbactionpro.com.
Sunday, February 26 — Roses en la Playa 5K, Leadbetter Beach, 9 a.m. sbactionpro.com.
