Week in Sports

TOP SPORTING EVENTS: DECEMBER 17-31

While UCSB’s basketball teams try to continue streaking on the road, there will be plenty of action on the home front to get hoop fans through a rainy week before Christmas.

San Marcos and Santa Barbara High play tonight (Fri., Dec. 17) at the SBCC Sports Pavilion, while Dos Pueblos will host Ventura. Westmont College’s men have a non-conference game against Menlo.

The Jim Bashore Cage Classic begins a four-day run at Carpinteria High tonight. The girls Tournament of Champions starts Monday. Santa Barbara High is the host school, but games also will be played at San Marcos and Dos Pueblos.

Meanwhile, the UCSB Gauchos are coming off one of their most noteworthy triumphs in years – a 68-62 road win over 22nd-ranked UNLV – and on Saturday night they will take on 10th-ranked San Diego State on the Aztecs’ home floor. The Gauchos (5-3) are riding a three-game winning streak, while San Diego State is off to an 11-0 start. UCSB is led by the 1-2 punch of James Nunnally (22.0 points per game) and Orlando Johnson (20.3). Nunnally scored 23 against UNLV’s Runnin’ Rebels, while Johnson had 12 points and 15 rebounds.

The Gaucho women (4-5) also have won three straight games, including an 86-83 overtime victory at Cal State Baskersfield. They came back from an 18-point deficit in the second half to win that one, tying the score on Kelsey Adrian’s 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation time. UCSB has traveled across the country for its next game Saturday at noon (Pacific time) against Fresno State in the St. John’s Tournament at Queens, New York. The Red Storm of St. John’s, ranked 18th in the nation, will play Southern Mississippi in the other semifinal matchup. The championship and consolation games will be Sunday.

The Gaucho men will make an appearance at the Thunderdome on Tuesday (Dec. 21) against NAIA opponent California Baptist.

Friday, December 17

High school girls basketball – Cornerstone Christian at Laguna Blanca, 5 p.m.; Providence Hall at San Marcos, 7 p.m.

High school boys basketball – Cornerstone Christian at Laguna Blanca, 6:30 p.m.; San Marcos at Santa Barbara, SBCC Sports Pavilion, 7 p.m.; Ventura at Dos Pueblos, 7 p.m.; Jim Bashore Cage Classic at Carpinteria, 2-8 p.m. Games include: Carpinteria vs. Providence Hall, 5 p.m.; Bishop Diego vs. Fillmore, 8 p.m.

College men’s basketball – Menlo at Westmont, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 18

High school boys basketball – Jim Bashore Cage Classic at Carpinteria, 12-6 p.m. Games include: Nordhoff vs. Bishop Diego, 12 p.m.; Cabrillo vs. Laguna Blanca, 1:30 p.m.; Channel Islands vs. Carpinteria, 6 p.m.

College women’s basketball – UCSB vs. Fresno State at St. John’s (N.Y.), 12 p.m.

College men’s basketball – UCSB at San Diego State, 7 p.m.

Sunday, December 19

College women’s basketball – UCSB at St. John’s (N.Y.) Tournament, 9 a.m. or 11 a.m.

Monday, December 20

High school boys basketball – Jim Bashore Cage Classic at Carpinteria, 1:30-7:30 p.m. Games include: Santa Ynez vs. Bishop Diego, 3 p.m.; Channel Islands vs. Laguna Blanca, 4:30 p.m.; Carpinteria vs. Cabrillo, 7:30 p.m.

High school girls basketball – Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions at SB High, 10:45 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; at Dos Pueblos, 12:30-7:30 p.m.; at San Marcos, 12:30-7:30 p.m. First-round games include: Pacifica at Santa Barbara, 5:45 p.m.; Nipomo at Dos Pueblos, 7:30 p.m.; Dana Hills at San Marcos, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, December 21

High school boys basketball – Jim Bashore Cage Classic at Carpinteria, 1:30-7:30 p.m. (championship).

High school girls basketball – Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions at SB High, 10:45 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; at Dos Pueblos, 12:30-7:30 p.m.; at San Marcos, 12:30-7:30 p.m.

College men’s basketball – California Baptist at UCSB, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, December 22

College women’s basketball – UCSB at Siena (N.Y.), 8 a.m.

High school girls water polo – The Bishop’s School at Dos Pueblos, 10 a.m.

High school girls basketball – Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions at SB High, 10:45 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; at Dos Pueblos, 10:45 a.m.-4 p.m.; at San Marcos, 10:45 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 23

High school girls basketball – Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions at SB High, 9 a.m.-5:45 p.m. (Green Division championship), 7:30 p.m. (Gold Division championship); at Dos Pueblos, 9 a.m.-2:15 p.m.; at San Marcos, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Nordhoff at Carpinteria, 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, December 28

College men’s basketball – Long Beach State at UCSB, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, December 29

High school boys basketball – Santa Barbara Holiday Classic.

College women’s basketball – GSAC Challenge at Westmont: Georgetown (Ky.) vs. California Baptist, 1 p.m.; Westminster (Utah) vs. Westmont, 5:30 p.m.

College men’s basketball – Tom Byron Classic at Westmont: Valley City State (N.D.) vs. British Columbia, 3 p.m.; Bethany Lutheran (Minn.) vs. Westmont, 7:30 p.m.

High school girls soccer – Harvard Westlake at Santa Barbara, 5 p.m.

Thursday, December 30

High school boys basketball – Santa Barbara Holiday Classic.

College women’s basketball – GSAC Challenge at Westmont: Westminster vs. California Baptist, 1 p.m.; Georgetown vs. Westmont, 5:30 p.m.; UCSB at Long Beach State, 7 p.m.

College men’s basketball – Tom Byron Classic at Westmont: Consolation game, 3 p.m.; Championship game, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, December 31

College men’s basketball – Fresno Pacific at UCSB, 2 p.m.

FOR RUNNERS

Saturday, January 1 – Resolution Day 10K/5K Run, bike path at Calle Caesar Chavez and Cabrillo, 8 a.m. active.com.

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.