Dons Advance to CIF Semifinals for 2nd Straight Year

The Dons are more than just Bolden Brace. With their star junior held to just eight points, Santa Barbara’s Ben Clay, Chris Wagonhurst and Max Henderson combined for 51 points as they beat Hart 62-51 in a CIF Division 2A quarterfinal game. Santa Barbara plays at Redlands East Valley on Tuesday in the semifinals.

Clay scored 14 of his team-high 20 points in the first half as the Dons erased a 19-14 first quarter deficit to lead 25-23 at the break.

Henderson and Wagonhurst hit big shots in the second half. Henderson sank two jumpers from beyond the arc in the third quarter as the Dons got some breathing room. He finished with four 3-pointers and 14 points.

The senior Wagonhurst closed the third quarter with a putback at the buzzer as the Dons led 41-34. He opened the fourth quarter with an inside basket and later he drilled two 3-pointers as the Dons pulled away. Wagonhurst finished with 17 points.

The Dons are 28-4 on the season and are back in the semifinals for a second straight season. They lost on the road to Oak Park last year.