Second-Half Push Not Enough as Santa Barbara Falls to St. Joseph
Erik Strandburg of Santa Barbara powers his way inside the St. Joseph defense. Strandburg scored 16 points. (Gary Kim / Noozhawk photo) By Brandon Victor, Noozhawk Correspondent
April 13, 2021
| 9:46 p.m.
Despite a strong second-half performance, the Santa Barbara boys basketball team fell 78-58 to St. Joseph on Tuesday in a non-league game at J.R. Richards Gym.
Senior forward Erik Strandburg and senior guard Miles Thompson both led the way for the Dons with 16 points apiece, while senior forward Andrew Douglas chipped in 8 points in the losing effort.
St. Joseph (3-0) had four players score in double figures, led by 6-foot-5 Jincho Rivera with 19 points. Steven Vasquez and 6-7 Samuel Bazunga each had 16 points and Angel Ortiz added 11.
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“Credit to (St. Bonaventure) for collapsing when we got in the paint. But we did a good job of finding shooters,” said Adam. “After that, the shooters have to knock down their open shots, and they did that tonight.”
Two other Dons scored in double-figures, with senior forward Erik Strandberg scoring 15 points and senior guard Dylan Borgeson chipping in 10. Strandburg scored eight of his 15 points in the paint, while Borgenson knocked down two 3-pointers.
Even when Santa Barbara struggled on the offensive end, the Dons’ swarming defense largely held the Seraphs in check. In the first quarter, Santa Barbara’s length and communication on the defensive end limited St. Bonaventure to four points in the quarter.
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By Barry Punzal, Noozhawk Sports Editor |
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| 7:48 p.m.
Thanks to a hefty donation from an NFL player, the empty space under the grandstand at the renovated Peabody Stadium at Santa Barbara High School will be transformed into a workout gym with state-of-the-art equipment.
A foundation started by Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler is donating $104,000 to build the training facility.
The Austin Ekeler Foundation has partnered with Santa Barbara’s Hutton Parker Foundation, Sonos, the locally headquartered wireless audio systems company, and Perform Better, a functional training, rehabilitation and sports performance firm, to make the project possible.
“I’ve always used working out as a means to self-improvement, which has ultimately led me to where I am today,” Ekeler said in a video posted on Twitter. “With this gym, I’m hoping to help hundreds, even thousands, of young kids develop confidence, improve their health and achieve thei