Fast start propels Vaqueros into final at San Diego Tourney

SBCC used a quick start and another big rebounding game to rout Glendale 78-56 on Saturday and move into the championship of the Knights' Colbert Classic at San Diego City College.

The Vaqueros (6-6) won the board battle 62-32, giving them 127 rebounds in the last two days. It was their second win over Glendale (2-7) this year. Santa Barbara is sixth in the state in rebounds, averaging 48.2 per game.

Destinee King notched her fifth straight double-double and eighth of the season with 16 points, 12 rebounds and four steals. Elissa Root tied her season high with 13 second-half points, thanks to 9-12 free-throw shooting. Christina Mattis had a career-best 12 points, hitting 4-5 from the field and 2-2 from the 3-point arc.

Kay Phosakham added 12 points and five boards while Jeanie Pattison had nine points and five rebounds. Jocelin Petatan had a team-high six assists with three steals and Hannah Rogers added six points and five rebounds.

"It's so exciting to win the game with 10 players scoring," said coach Sandrine Krul. "We are at our best when everyone rotates in and plays hard. This was an excellent team win on offense and defense.

"Our goal was to hold them in the 50s and we achieved that. It's very exciting to be playing in our first tourney championship of the season."

Santa Barbara led 20-8 after the first quarter and boosted the margin to 15 points (37-22) at the half. The Vaqueros made 45.5 percent from the field in the first half, including 4-9 on 3-pointers.

For the game, SBCC outshot Glendale 39.7 to 28.2 percent. Santa Barbara was plus-16 in free throws, making 28-of-43 compared to 12-18 for Glendale.

The Vaqueros won the third period 26-17 and took a 24-point cushion (63-39) into the final quarter.

SBCC will battle the host San Diego City for the title on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Knights (3-4) edged Imperial Valley 51-49 on a last-second layup by Aviva Garcia.