Saints get a major boost from Castro

BAKERSFIELD - Santa Maria's girls soccer team went 2-1 in pool play at the Garces Memorial Tourney Friday.

A lot of the Saints' offense came from - guess who - Norma Castro.

The sophomore striker usually scores all the goals for the Saints (5-3) and she did so again Friday. Santa Maria lost 1-0 to Foothill of Bakersfield and then defeated Antelope Valley 1-0 and Fresno Christian 3-0.

Against Antelope Valley, Castro scored in the 20th minute on "a beauty of a pass," from Ana Velasco, said Santa Maria coach Phil Christensen.

"Antelope Valley played defense all day," Christensen said.

Castro struck thrice against Fresno Christian as the Saints won 3-0. Castro scored twice on breakaways and then put in another goal on a pass from Velasco. Christensen cleared his bench in the second half.

Besides Castro's work, "our midfield controlled the ball," said Christensen, whose team is off to the best start in his five years at the helm.

Foothill scored in the first five minutes, then Santa Maria goal keeper Codee Crenshaw shut out the opposition the rest of the way.

Santa Maria takes on Los Padres League rival Morro Bay at 8:45 a.m. today in another tournament game.

Girls basketball

Lake Oswego (Ore). 54, RHS 40

SANTA BARBARA - At the Tournament of Champions Veronica Williams, Righetti's leading scorer, did not play in the second half because of a shoulder injury, and the Warriors' one-point halftime lead went by the boards.

Righetti dropped to 5-2 with the loss at Robinson Gym at UC Santa Barbara.

Warriors coach Harold Oliveira said Williams will see a doctor today and, "We'll know more then."

Williams had 10 points at halftime. Righetti center Kristina Santiago scored a game-high 19 points. Kelsey Lavender led Lake Oswego with 17 points.

The Warriors play the Esperanza (Anaheim)-Antelope Valley loser at 10:45 a.m. today at Dos Pueblos High.

SY 55, Sacred Heart 54

GOLETA - The Pirates (6-1) edged the Atherton-based team in overtime at the Tournament of Champions at San Marcos.

Lindsay Demery poured in 23 points for the Pirates. Ariana Gnekow put in 18.

Sacred Heart forced the extra period by outscoring the Pirates 19-9 the fourth quarter. Santa Ynez plays Agoura at 5:40 p.m. in another TOC game.

SM 42, SLO 25

SAN LUIS OBISPO - After losing to the Tigers in their season opener, the Saints turned the tables on the host team in the San Luis Obispo Tournament.

Thus, the Saints (6-4) play powerful North Bakersfield at 5 p.m. for the tourney championship.

"North Bakersfield beat Mission Prep by 40 or 50 points," Santa Maria coach Larry Carney said. "They just have a very good, swarming team."

Santa Maria's Brittoni DeWitt swarmed toward rebounds well enough to snare 19 of them Friday night. MacKenzie Jimenez tossed in 22 points for the Saints.

Boys basketball

Santa Ynez 65, BD 62

CARPINTERIA - The Pirates (4-4) withstood a strong second half by the Cardinals and 27 points from their Andy Aigian to win a Carpinteria Tournament game.

Santa Ynez, which led 36-23 at halftime, got 22 pionts from Daniel Hestehauge and 14 from Arthur Van Leuven.

VCA 65, Riverdale 33

CAMBRIA - The Lions (3-5) put up 25 3-pointers in this Coast Union Tournament game and made 11 of them.

James Murphy, who scored 20 points, made four treys. Daniel Easley made two more. NIc Vanaman scored 11 points for the Lions before he fouled out.

The Lions play at South Bay Lutheran of Los Angeles at 3:30 p.m. today in a non-league game.

Atascadero 62, AG 42

ARROYO GRANDE - The undefeated Greyhounds lived up to their billing Friday as they handled host Arroyo Grande in the third round of the Arroyo Grande Optimist Holiday Tournament.

The win all but wrapped up the championship trophy for Atascadero, which has won its first three games. It closes with Camarillo at 1 p.m. today, which is winless in the tourney.

Arroyo Grande, 4-6, had no answer for stopping Mecklen Davis, who netted 23 points. Darroll Phillips added 15, many of those in transition. The fastbreak that the Eagles dreaded led directly to 11 points for Atascadero.

Arroyo Grande made one big run at the Greyhounds in the second half, closing to eight at 36-28, but J.D. Berwick hit one of his 3-pointers and Davis added four as the lead surged back to 16.

Arroyo Grande will try to lay claim to a share of third place when it takes the floor at 2:30 p.m. today against Lompoc, which will try to win a share of second place.

The tournament will open with San Luis Obispo and Corona Del Mar tipping off at 11:30 a.m.

SLO 64, Camarillo 59

The Tigers rallied to outscore Camarillo 19-16 in the fourth quarter to win.

San Luis Obispo, 4-5, also took advantage of a big edge in scoring at the charity stripe, 23-8, to secure the win.

Jon Wintermeyer hit six of his team-high 18 points in the final frame to spearhead the comeback. Brian Clarke added 14.

Robert Rodriguez scored 19 for Camarillo and Dan Rasp added 13.

Corona del Mar 80, Lpc. 44

There was not much that went right for the Braves, 2-8. Lompoc was dismantled by the Sea Kings, 4-4, in the middle game.

Pancho Seaborn bombed home five 3-pointers for a game-high 22 points for Corona Del Mar. Other Sea Kings in double figures were Jay Northridge with 15, Kevin Welch 12 and Ryan Lance 11.

Joey Erving was the only Brave in double figures with 10. Boo Jackson was benched in the first half after a technical foul at the end of Thursday's win.

Women's basketball

Sierra 91, Hancock 42

SAN MATEO - Hancock (2-9) trailed 41-19 at halftime of this San Mateo Lady Bulldog Classic game and never could get into contention against the Rocklin-based Wolverines afterward.

Caysi Garife scored 12 points and Dani Golson grabbed eight rebounds for Hancock, which will play either Feather River or host San Mateo at 3 p.m. today.

Cerritos 63, Cuesta 39

COSTA MESA - The Falcons soared to victory over the Cougars in the first round of the Orange Coast College Tournament.

Jessica Cox led Cuesta (2-9) with 11 points. The Cougars play Southwestern of Chula Vista at 1:30 p.m. today in the consolation semifinals.

Staff writer Vern Ahrendes contributed to this report.

December 20, 2003