TOP SPORTING EVENTS: MARCH 8-20

Santa Barbara is semifinal tough in the 2012 Big West Basketball Tournament. Both of UCSB’s teams will be playing Friday, March 9, for berths in the finals at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

The Gaucho men (19-9) routed Pacific 72-52 in the quarterfinals Thursday. They will take on Central Coast rival Cal Poly, a 66-54 winner over UC Riverside, in the 9 p.m. semifinal game. Earlier, top-seeded Long Beach State will face UC Irvine, which pulled the big upset of the opening day by knocking off second-seeded Cal State Fullerton, 65-59.

In the women’s tournament, UCSB had to play at UC Irvine in the quarterfinals Tuesday, and it beat the Anteaters for the first time this year, 61-51. The Gauchos (15-15) will face Pacific in a 2:30 p.m. semifinal game Friday. Pacific is another team that beat UCSB twice during the regular season. Top-seeded Cal Poly will face Long Beach State in the other women’s semifinal.

Saturday’s finals will be televised, the women’s on Prime Ticket at 2 p.m. and the men’s at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

Westmont College is one of four top seeds in the NAIA Women’s Championship beginning next week at Frankfort, Kentucky. The Warriors (29-3) drew Lyon, Arkansas, (20-11) in the opening round of the 32-team tournament at 9:30 a.m. (PDT) Thursday, March 15.

The high school winter playoffs came to an end for local schools. The last two remaining teams lost in the state regionals – Santa Monica Crossroads defeating Cate 4-3 in Division 3 soccer, and Visalia Central Valley Christian ousting Providence Hall 58-40 in Division 5 girls basketball.

SCHEDULE OF GAMES

Thursday, March 8

High school boys volleyball – Channel Islands at Laguna Blanca, 5 p.m.; Arcadia at San Marcos, 6 p.m.

Friday, March 9

College baseball – Point Loma Nazarene at Westmont, 2 p.m.

College women’s basketball – Big West Tournament semifinals at Anaheim Honda Center: UCSB vs. Pacific, 2:30 p.m.

College softball – Long Beach City at SBCC, 2:30 p.m.

High school swimming – San Marcos at Dos Pueblos, 2:30 p.m.

High school softball – Dos Pueblos at San Marcos, 3:30 p.m.

College men’s volleyball – L.A. Pierce at SBCC, 6 p.m.; UC San Diego at UCSB, Robertson Gym, 7 p.m.

College men’s basketball – Big West Tournament semifinals at Anaheim Honda Center, 6:30 and 9 p.m.

Saturday, March 10

High school baseball – Burbank Burroughs at Dos Pueblos (2), 11 a.m.

College baseball – Ventura at SBCC, 1 p.m.

College women’s basketball – Big West Tournament final at Anaheim Honda Center, 2 p.m.

College men’s basketball – Big West Tournament final at Anaheim Honda Center, 7 p.m.

Monday, March 12

Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon, Harry’s Plaza Café, 12 p.m.

Tuesday, March 13

College softball – Cuesta at SBCC (2), 1 p.m.

College baseball – Occidental at Westmont (2), 11 a.m.; Fresno State at UCSB, 3 p.m.

High school baseball – Buena at Santa Barbara, 3:15 p.m.; Ventura at San Marcos, 3:15 p.m.

High school softball – Righetti at Dos Pueblos, 3:30 p.m.

High school boys volleyball – Valencia at Santa Barbara, 6 p.m.; Rio Mesa at San Marcos, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, March 14

High school baseball – Carpinteria at Bishop Diego, 3:30 p.m.

High school softball – Santa Paula at Carpinteria, 3:30 p.m.

College men’s basketball – CIT tournament: UCSB at Idaho, 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 15

College women’s basketball – NAIA National Championships at Frankfort, Kentucky, first round: Westmont vs. Lyon (Arkansas), 9:30 a.m. PDT.

College softball – Ventura at SBCC, 2:30 p.m.

College baseball – Rhode Island at UCSB, 3 p.m.

High school track and field – Santa Barbara at San Marcos, 3 p.m.

High school boys volleyball – San Marcos at Dos Pueblos, 6 p.m.

Friday, March 16

College baseball – Rhode Island at UCSB (2), 11 a.m.; Hancock at SBCC, 2:30 p.m.

High school swimming – Santa Barbara and Fountain Valley at Dos Pueblos, 2 p.m.; Oxnard at San Marcos, 3 p.m.

High school baseball – Santa Clara at Bishop Diego, 2 p.m.; Santa Barbara at San Marcos, 3:15 p.m.; Ventura at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 p.m.

High school softball – San Marcos at Santa Barbara, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 17

High school boys volleyball – Dos Pueblos Invitational at UCSB.

High school softball – Nipomo at Carpinteria (2), 11 a.m.

College baseball – San Diego Christian at Westmont (2), 12 p.m.; Rhode Island at UCSB, 1 p.m.

Sunday, March 18

College women’s basketball – NCAA tournament: UCSB vs. Baylor at Bowling Green, Ohio, 11:30 a.m.

College baseball – Rhode Island at UCSB, 1 p.m.

Monday, March 19

Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon, Harry’s Plaza Café, 12 p.m.

Tuesday, March 20

High school swimming – Dos Pueblos at Santa Barbara, 2:30 p.m.

High school baseball – Dos Pueblos at Santa Barbara, 3:15 p.m.

High school softball – Santa Barbara at Dos Pueblos, 3:30 p.m.; Buena at San Marcos, 3:30 p.m.

High school boys volleyball – Providence Hall at Laguna Blanca, 5 p.m.; Buena at Santa Barbara, 6 p.m.; Ventura at San Marcos, 6 p.m.

RUNNING, WALKING, CYCLING

Saturday, March 10 – Solvang Century, 100- and 50-mile rides, Hotel Corque, 400 Alisal Road, 6:30 a.m. bikescor.com

Saturday, March 17 – Barbara Ireland 10-Mile Walk/Run for the Cure of Breast Cancer, Chase Palm Park Pavilion, 8:30 a.m. ccsb.org.

Saturday, March 31 – Firestone Walker Avenue of the Flags Criterium bike races, downtown Buellton, 7 a.m. (Professional races at 3 p.m.) ridesb.com.

Saturday, April 7 – Are You Tough Enough? 100K Relay, Toro Canyon to Nojoqui Falls, 7 a.m. areyoutoughenough.com.

Saturday, April 14 – Chardonnay 10 Miler/5K, Loma Alta and Shoreline Drive, 8 a.m. sbactionpro.com.

Saturday, April 28 – Gaucho Gallop, 10K/5K, UCSB Harder Stadium, 8:15 a.m. ucsbruns.com.

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