Santa Barbara looking to turn things around

Can't imagine I was the only one surprised when Roberto Nelson-led Santa Barbara opened the season in an uninspiring manner, losing two winnable games in the first six outings. I mean, how does this happen to a team ranked among The Times' top 25 in the preseason, a team with a player the caliber of Nelson?

Frankly, something like that shouldn't happen. Apparently, the Dons agree, Nelson in particular. The highly-touted junior came out with vengeance Saturday night in the fifth-place game of the Clash on the Coast Tournament, scoring 45 points and adding 13 rebounds in an 82-58 victory over host Pacifica.

Marina boys' basketball players take the long approach

Keep shooting.

That's the philosophy the Marina boys' basketball team used to make headlines last winter. Now it's drawing attention all over again.    The Vikings set a state record with 29 three-pointers in Saturday's 103-59 victory over Norwalk in a consolation game of the Beckman tournament. That broke their own record of 28 threes in a game, which they accomplished twice last year.

Marina's 97 three-point attempts also broke the national single-game record of 94, set by Juniata Valley of Alexandria, Penn., in 1996-1997.

Sophomore Brendan Holmes led the way Saturday with 39 points on 13 three-pointers and junior guard Garrett James, pictured from a game last season, added 35 points, including nine three-pointers, as the Vikings (5-3) sank five threes in the first quarter, seven in the second, eight in the third and nine in the fourth.

Final thoughts from the Home Depot Center ...

Concord De La Salle's 37-31 victory over Corona Centennial Saturday was the first victory by the North in the two seasons that California has played its state bowl championship series.

For DLS (13-0), it avenged last year's 27-13 defeat to Canyon Country Canyon.

"I'm real glad the guys finished the season the way that they did," Coach Bob Ladouceur said. "I knew this game could've flopped either way. But I thought (we) deserved to win. Great teams pull it out at the end.

"Centennial is a great football team. We knew they were going to get points and get yards. In the first half our defense put us in good spots.

"We didn't stop them much in the second half, but when we needed to, we did."

Bass reels in huge compliment after final game

Dean Crowley, the former Southern Section commissioner who served as event coordinator at the Home Depot Center on Saturday, reported that De La Salle Coach Bob Ladouceur went up to Centennial running back Ryan Bass after the game and said, "You were the best player on the field tonight."

Bass, pictured, carried 36 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 16 yards.

It wasn't all highlights, though. He also had a fumble at his own 48 on a trick play -- a direct snap to him while QB Matt Scott headed toward the sidelines, acting as if he needed help from coaches. De La Salle turned into it into a touchdown.

De La Salle win state Division I bowl championship game

It's a final: De La Salle 37, Centennial 31, in a game of two halves. It made a pretty good whole.

-- Martin Henderson

De La Salle interception should secure the Division I bowl title

It's over. Well, practically.

Matt Scott at first wanted to dump the ball to Ryan Bass, then opted to dump it to Marsel Posey, and instead Blair Wishom made the interception at the Centennial 27 and carried to the 19.

With 1:52 left in the game, De La Salle can surely run out the clock.

The Spartans will be the state Division I bowl champions. Finally.

-- Martin Henderson

Centennial gets one more shot at De La Salle

Centennial is going to get another shot at it. Michael Czyz is back to punt. Earlier he punted into the back of his blocker. Centennial got a safety out of it.

It almost got a touchdown out of it.

The extra five points might have come in handy, don't you think? A field goal could win it for Centennial. Instead, with 2:07 left in the game, the Huskies must go 82 yards -- and score a touchdown and kick an extra point for a victory.

-- Martin Henderson

De La Salle makes the play on defense when it counts.

It's De La Salle that comes up big on fourth down. Centennial's Matt Scott runs the option to the left, then pitches it late to Ryan Bass. He's wrapped up by Blair Wishom. It's a five-yard loss, and now the only question is whether De La Salle can run out the final 2:50 of the game.

If not, Centennial may get one more shot at history.

-- Martin Henderson

Game on the line on fourth down

Fourth and two, at the 30. Game on the line. Two minutes 56 seconds remaining.

This is championship football. Matt Scott just ran eight yards on third and 10 for Centennial, and now it's up to Centennial to make a play on offense -- or De La Salle to make a play on defense -- to win a Division I state bowl championship.

If DLS holds here, it very likely wins this game.

If Centennial converts, the Huskies are still alive.

It's big.

-- Martin Henderson

DLS platoon system at QB pays late dividends

De La Salle uses two quarterbacks, and though Blake Wayne has gotten most of the reps tonight, the Spartans turned to senior Mike MacGillivray to stop the bleeding. He did just that, guiding the Spartans 80 yards, aided by a couple of facemask penalties, and a 25-yard touchdown pass to Noah Perio.

It wasn't a total downer for Centennial: A celebration by Perio brought a penalty, and Michael Czyz pulled the extra-long extra-point kick wide right, so the Spartans lead, 37-31, with 5:09 remaining.

If the Huskies can score again and kick an extra point, they're golden.

-- Martin Henderson