Fast start leads Dons to season sweep of the Royals in boys basketball
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Sometimes it's how you start a game that leads to a victory.
Santa Barbara jumped out to a 17-5 lead after the first quarter and San Marcos could not never quite catch up.
The Dons beat the Royals 57-43 to complete a season sweep over their rivals as they stay on track for at least a share of a Channel League title.
DJ Wilson made three consecutive 3-pointers in the first quarter to lead the Dons to a wire-to-wire victory.
Luke Zuffelato scored a game-high 20 points for Santa Barbara who looked like they would blow out the Royals after leading by 19 points in the second quarter.
Will Harman finished off a 21-4 Santa Barbara run with two of his 11 points as they led 26-7.
But sophomore Koji Hefner made a 4-point play and then a tough mid-range jumper to lead the Royals to a 9-0 run to close the first half and they were down just 26-16.
Hefner scored a team-high 13 points for San Marcos.
Zuffelato made a couple of tough shots driving into traffic in the third quarter as the Dons built up a 36-24 lead.
But the Royals answered back behind Shane Kadlec who made a sweeping hook shot and a three-pointer and it was 39-33 after three quarters.
Kadlec cut the Dons lead to a one possession game early in the fourth quarter at 39-36.
He finished with 10 points and sophomore guard Brody Green added 9 for San Marcos.
But after the Royals cut the deficit to three Santa Barbara immediately responded.
Tobin Shyrock dished off one of his 8 assists as Finn Whipps scored inside plus he was fouled and he completed a 3-point play.
Whipps collected 12 rebounds for the Dons.
Wilson, who finished with 15 points, nailed his fourth three-pointer to push the lead to 45-36 with under five minutes to go and the Royals did not have another push left.
The Dons and their visiting fans celebrated a win at the Thunderhut to improve to 20-7 overall and 12-1 in league.
Santa Barbara remains tied for first with Oxnard with one regular season game left.
The Dons are at Rio Mesa on Wednesday and the Yellowjackets host Ventura.
