Sports Highlights: March 18-23
The Santa Barbara High girls basketball team brings March Madness excitement to J.R. Richards Gym one last time Tuesday night, March 18, when the Dons host the Mount Miguel Matadors of Spring Valley in the Division III State Regional semifinals.
The Dons (28-5), the Southern Section 3AA champions, have won seven consecutive postseason games. They roared back from a halftime deficit in last Saturday’s quarterfinals, outscoring La Canada 40-20 in the second half for a 55-43 victory. Mount Miguel (27-5), a semifinalist in the San Diego Section Open Division, defeated Selma 68-61.
The winner Tuesday will advance to the regional final at Colony High in Ontario on Saturday. The other semifinalists are Santa Margarita and Lakeside, the team Santa Barbara defeated in the section final. The regional champion will face the Northern California Regional winner for the state championship on March 28 at Sacramento.
Westmont College returns to Frankfort, Ky., for the NAIA women’s championships this week. The Warriors won the title last year. This time they are seeded fourth in their bracket and open up against fifth-seeded Xavier (La.) on Wednesday.
COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS
Tuesday, 3/18: Baseball – Oxnard at SBCC, 2 :30 pm.
Wednesday, 3/19: Women’s basketball: NAIA championship at Frankfort, Ky., first round: Westmont vs. Xavier (La.), 6:45 pm.
Thursday, 3/20: Softball – Ventura at SBCC, 2:30 pm.
Friday, 3/21: Track and field – Easter Relays at SBCC, 11 am. Women’s basketball – NAIA championship, second round. Baseball – Wagner College at UCSB, 3 pm; Biola at Westmont, 3 pm. Men’s volleyball – Santa Monica at SBCC, 6 pm.
Saturday, 3/22: Baseball – Wagner College at UCSB (2), 12 pm; Biola at Westmont (2), 12 pm. Women’s basketball – NAIA championship, quarterfinals.
Sunday, 3/23: Baseball – Wagner College at UCSB, 1 pm.
HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
Tuesday, 3/18: Swimming – Thousand Oaks at San Marcos, 3 pm. Baseball – Dos Pueblos at Santa Barbara, 3:15 pm. Softball – Santa Barbara at Dos Pueblos, 3:30 pm; Buena at San Marcos, 3:30 pm; Nordhoff at Carpinteria, 3:30 pm. Boys volleyball – Carpinteria at Bishop Diego, 6:30 pm. Girls basketball – State Regional semifinal: Mount Miguel at Santa Barbara, 7 pm.
Wednesday, 3/19: Swimming – Righetti at Santa Barbara, 2 pm. Softball – Hueneme at Santa Barbara, 3:30 pm; Pacifica at Bishop Diego, 3:30 pm; Channel Islands at Carpinteria, 3:30 pm; Cabrillo at Dos Pueblos, 4 pm.
Thursday, 3/20: Track and field – Maricopa Relays at Carpinteria, 3 pm. Softball – Bishop Diego at San Marcos, 3:30 pm. Boys volleyball – Valencia at Santa Barbara, 5:30 pm; San Marcos at Dos Pueblos, 6 pm.
Friday, 3/21: Baseball – Buena at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 pm; Mission Prep at Bishop Diego, 3:30 pm. Softball – Ventura at Santa Barbara, 3:30 pm.
Saturday, 3/22: Track and field – Easter Relays at SBCC, 9 am. Baseball – Baldwin Park at Bishop Diego, 11 am; Thacher at Carpinteria, 3 pm. Girls basketball – State Regional finals at Ontario Colony High School, 6 pm.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Saturday, 3/29: Roller Derby – Mission City Brawlin’ Betties vs. Black List, Page Youth Center, 5 pm.
