Santa Barbara Independent

Julia Bullock and the Orchestra of Enlightenment | Photo: David Bazemore Santa Barbara's 2025 classical music beat commenced in strong early music mode, as if by design. Camera Pacifica opened the concert year door with a program of Bach — and Bach reinvented — featuring Baroque flute specialist Emi Ferguson and classical-jazz piano sensation Dan Tepfer at Hahn Hall. A few days later, the Baroque factor returned in grander scale, when the rightly renowned period instrument ensemble Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment filled the Lobero Theatre with its refined — and, when required, tastefully raucous — sound, joined by the luminous and adventure-game soprano Julia Bullock I was out of town for the CamBach evening, but very much plugged in and turned on by the Orchestra/Bullock performance, aptly dubbed “The Golden Age of the Baroque” and hosted by UCSB Arts & Lectures. Directed by violinist Kati Debretzeni , the orchestra stands up on the job and proudly adheres to the period instrument, period-style approach of early music practice, calling up a lean, propulsive and yet, on its terms, sumptuous ensemble sound. After opening with Handel's “The Arrival of Queen of Sheba,” from the opera Solomon , the animated Debretzeni introduced us to her gift of gab with the comment, “like the Queen of Sheba, we have arrived.” And just in time to stave off a growing hunger for live classical music in town after the long winter's nap from concert action. The program amounted to a healthy sampler plate of Baroque repertoire, touching on the staples of Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Telemann (his lesser-known but engrossing “Water Music,” not Vivaldi's) and the French composer Jean-Baptiste Lully, and others. As an incidental note, we very likely heard heftier doses of Handel opera on this night than at any other time since the Music Academy of the West's ground-breaking, mid-summer production of Handel's Rodelinda on this stage back in 1999. Bullock's natural magnetism and deep musicality in her appearances added to the mix. And yes, this is the same Bullock who we were wowed by at last fall's performance and conceptualization of Olivier Messiaen's Harawi (a make-up performance after COVID prevented her from a planned Ojai Music Festival spotlight in 2022). As available to the contemporary music muse as Bullock is, she is versatile in many settings and eras, including the early music cause. Sometimes, the early/modern equation overlaps, as witness her recent appearance in a Royal Opera production of Handel's Theodora involving a strip club and loaded sexuality. Pole dancing was not to be found on the Lobero stage, but the group's vibrant and never static approach to the music managed to summon up sensual energies. Each of Bullock's few appearances on stage seized our attentions and affections, from her measured restraint and gorgeous tone on Handel arias — “Verdi Prati,” from Alcina , and “Let the Bright Seraphim,” from Samson — to Purcell's “If Love's a Sweet Passion,” from The Fairy Queen From the lesser-known and unjustly obscure quarters of the Baroque musical canon came a rare women composer from the period, Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677), a singer, lutenist and prototypical artist in the category now known as “singer-songwriter.” Bullock gave persuasive expression and exposure to selections from the composer's “ Che si puo fare ? (What Can Be Done?),” an elegant lament with a hauntingly cyclical chordal design. For all of the diversified entries in this 15-work program, one could say the menu leaned a bit heavily on the Baroque “greatest hits” parade. Do we really need to hear another reading, however eloquent, of Pachelbel's Canon in D , diluted by too many public and commercial uses and George Winston's soft-serve version? Maybe not. Hearing it now, we can recognize the retrospective ripples of the simple chord cycle to “Louie Louie” and “La Bamba.” Nothing against those fine opuses. On the other hand, “hits” — aka “evergreens” — are not all created equal, and there was much pleasure to be taken in the ensemble's rich and period-conscientious readings of such classics as Vivaldi's “The Four Seasons” (being “spring” here), the emotional beneficence of Bach's “Air” on a G string, and Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3. In these cases, the orchestra rose to its own high standards of precision and panache, not to mention a deep respect for musical values of an earlier age, enlightened in its own special ways. Sat, Feb 08 12:30 PM Solvang Sat, Feb 08 3:00 PM SANTA BARBARA Tue, Feb 04 4:00 PM Santa Barbara Wed, Feb 05 2:30 PM Santa Barbara Thu, Feb 06 6:00 PM Santa Barbara Fri, Feb 07 7:30 PM Santa Barbara Sat, Feb 08 10:00 AM Santa Barbara Sat, Feb 08 11:00 AM Santa Barbara Sat, Feb 08 12:30 PM Solvang Sat, Feb 08 3:00 PM SANTA BARBARA Tue, Feb 04 4:00 PM Santa Barbara Wed, Feb 05 2:30 PM Santa Barbara Thu, Feb 06 6:00 PM Santa Barbara Fri, Feb 07 7:30 PM Santa Barbara Sat, Feb 08 10:00 AM Santa Barbara Sat, Feb 08 11:00 AM Santa Barbara Sat, Feb 08 12:30 PM Solvang Sat, Feb 08 3:00 PM SANTA BARBARA

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): The world's largest mirror isn't an actual mirror. It's Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni salt flat, a vast area that's almost perfectly flat. After a rain, a thin layer of calm water transforms the surface into a perfect reflector that can be used to calibrate observation satellites. In these conditions, it may be almost impossible to tell where the earth begins and the sky ends. I foresee metaphorically similar developments for you during the coming weeks. Boundaries between different aspects of your world — professional and personal, spiritual and practical — might blur in interesting ways. A temporary dissolution of the usual limits may offer you surprising insights and unexpected opportunities for realignment. Be alert for helpful clues about how to adjust the way you see things. TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20): From day to day, glaciers appear static. But they are actually slow-moving rivers of ice that have tremendous creative power. They can make or reshape valleys, moving tons of dirt and rock. They pulverize, grind, and topple trees, hills, and even mountains. New lakes may emerge in the course of their activity. I invite you to imagine yourself as a glacier in the coming months, Taurus. Exult in your steady transformative power. Notice and keep track of your slow but sure progress. Trust that your persistence will ultimately accomplish wonders and marvels. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In recent weeks, have you stirred up any dynamic fantasies about exotic sanctuaries or faraway places or mercurial wild cards? Have you delivered enticing messages to inspiring beauties or brave freedom-fighters or vibrant networkers? Have you been monitoring the activities of longshots or future helpers or unification adepts who might be useful to you sooner than you imagine? Finally, Gemini, have you noticed I'm suggesting that everything important will arise in threes — except when they come in twos, in which case you should hunt for the missing third? PS: When the wild things call to you, respond promptly. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Archaeologists found two 43,000-year-old flutes in Germany. Constructed of mammoth ivory and bird bone, they still produce clear notes with perfect pitch. They were located in a cave that contains ancient examples of figurative art. Some genius way back then regarded art and music as a pleasurable pairing! I propose we make these instruments your power symbols for the coming weeks, Cancerian. May they inspire you to resuscitate the value of your past accomplishments. May you call on the help of melodies and memories that still resonate — and that can inspire your future adventures! Your words of power are regeneration, revival, and reanimation. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): It's your unbirthday season, Leo — the holiday that's halfway between your last birthday and your next. During this interlude, you could benefit from clarifying what you don't want, don't believe, and don't like. You may generate good fortune for yourself by going on a quest to discover rich potentials and stirring possibilities that are as-yet hidden or unexpressed. I hope you will be bold enough to scan the frontiers for sources of beauty and truth that you have been missing. During your unbirthday season, you will be wise to gather the rest of the information you will need to make a smart gamble or daring change. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Austrian playwright Elfriede Jelinek won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2004, and Romanian-German author Herta Müller earned it in 2009. But garnering the world's most prestigious award for writers did not provide a big boost to their book sales. In some markets, their famous works are now out of print. In 2025, I hope you Virgos do in your own spheres what they only half-accomplished in theirs. I would love for you to gather more appreciation and attention while simultaneously raising your income. According to my reading of the astrological omens, this is a reasonable expectation. mmodo ligula interdum. Mauris quis justo mattis, vehicula magna vitae, convallis mi. Aliquam erat volutpat. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): By day, Libra-born Forrest Bess (1911-1977) worked as a commercial fisherman in Texas. By night, he created visionary paintings inspired by symbols that appeared to him in states between sleeping and waking. Other influences in his art came from alchemy, the psychological philosophy of Carl Jung, and Indigenous Australian rituals. His life was living proof that mystical exploration and mundane work could coexist. I'm hoping he might serve you as an inspirational role model. You are in a phase when you have the power to blend and synergize seemingly opposing aspects of your world. You would be wise to meditate on how to find common ground between practical necessity and spiritual aspiration. Are there ways you can unite the desires of your head and heart? Of your need for safety and your longing for adventure? Of your craving for beauty and your fondness for usefulness? SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, arranged for himself to be buried after death with an army of 8,000 soldiers made from terracotta, which is a clay ceramic. Joining the gang below the earth's surface were 770 horses and 130 chariots. For more than 2,000 years, this assemblage was lost and forgotten. But in 1974, farmers digging a new well found it accidentally. In this spirit, I am predicting that sometime in the next five months, you will make interesting discoveries while looking for something other than what you find. They won't be as spectacular as the terracotta army, but I bet they will be fun and life changing. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Author Zora Neale Hurston said, “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” I will adjust that counsel for your use, Sagittarius. According to my astrological analysis, the first half of 2025 will ask questions, and the second half will answer them. For best results, I invite you to gather and polish your best questions in the next five months, carefully defining and refining them. When July begins, tell life you are ready to receive replies to your carefully wrought inquiries. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Hemoglobin is an iron-bearing protein that's crucial to most life. It enables the transportation of oxygen in the blood. But one species, the icefish of the Antarctic seas, lacks hemoglobin. They evolved other ways to obtain and circulate enough oxygen in the frozen depths, including larger hearts and blood vessels. The system they've developed works well. So they are examples of how to adjust to an apparent problem in ways that lead to fine evolutionary innovations. I suspect you're now in the midst of your own personal version of a comparable adaptation. Keep up the good work! AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Born under the sign of Aquarius, Clyde Tombaugh discovered the heavenly body known as Pluto in 1930. This was years before he earned advanced degrees in astronomy. His early education was primarily self-directed. The telescopes he used to learn the sky were built from tractor parts and old car components from his father's farm. During the coming months, I surmise there will be elements of your life resembling Tombaugh's story. Your intuition and instincts will bring you insights that may seem unearned or premature. (They're not!) You will garner breakthroughs that seem to be arriving from the future. PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): One of the world's deepest caves is Veryovkina in the nation of Georgia. At its lowest, it's 7,257 feet down. There are creatures living there that are found nowhere else on earth. I propose we make it your symbolic power spot for now. In my astrological opinion, you will be wise to dive further into the unknown depths than you have in quite some time. Fascinating mysteries and useful secrets await you. Your motto: “Go deeper and deeper and deeper.” Homework: Here are all your long-term, big-picture horoscopes for 2025: By Rob Brezsny | Tue Jan 28, 2025 By Rob Brezsny | Wed Jan 22, 2025 By Rob Brezsny | Mon Jan 13, 2025 Sat, Feb 08 12:30 PM Solvang Sat, Feb 08 3:00 PM SANTA BARBARA Tue, Feb 04 4:00 PM Santa Barbara Wed, Feb 05 2:30 PM Santa Barbara Thu, Feb 06 6:00 PM Santa Barbara Fri, Feb 07 7:30 PM Santa Barbara Sat, Feb 08 10:00 AM Santa Barbara Sat, Feb 08 11:00 AM Santa Barbara Sat, Feb 08 12:30 PM Solvang Sat, Feb 08 3:00 PM SANTA BARBARA Tue, Feb 04 4:00 PM Santa Barbara Wed, Feb 05 2:30 PM Santa Barbara Thu, Feb 06 6:00 PM Santa Barbara Fri, Feb 07 7:30 PM Santa Barbara Sat, Feb 08 10:00 AM Santa Barbara Sat, Feb 08 11:00 AM Santa Barbara Sat, Feb 08 12:30 PM Solvang Sat, Feb 08 3:00 PM SANTA BARBARA

SANTA BARBARA, CA, February 3, 2025—The Santa Barbara Education Foundation (SBEF) hosted its annual Teacher Grants awards reception at the

SANTA YNEZ, CA – January 31, 2025 – To assist Santa Barbara County schools that are struggling to meet the classroom technology needs of their students, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has donated over $79,000 to 10 area schools that applied for grants through its foundation's Technology in Schools Program for the 2024-25 school year. The program encourages Santa Barbara County school administrators and faculty to apply for technology grant dollars to fund specific projects. These grants let schools purchase hardware, upgrade infrastructure, add high-tech resources and boost their curriculum. The deadline to apply for the 2025-26 school year is April 30, 2025, and all applications must be submitted online at www.chumash.gov/foundation This year's recipients are Vista Del Mar Union School District in Gaviota, College School District in Santa Ynez, Los Olivos Elementary School in the Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara Unified School District, La Colina Junior High School in Santa Barbara, Orcutt Academy High School in Santa Maria, Saint Louis de Montfort Catholic School in Santa Maria, San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, Lakeview Junior High School in Santa Maria and Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. “It's an honor to help enhance the learning experience of potentially thousands of young, learning minds in Santa Barbara County through our Technology in Schools Program,” said Kenneth Kahn, Tribal Chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “An innovative education is crucial to student engagement and the success of our future generations, and we're proud to be able to contribute by helping put the latest technology in local classrooms.” Vista Del Mar Union School District was awarded $8,255 and will use this funding to upgrade its existing Chromebooks so students can use the latest applications, access the State Testing Portal and replace uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for consistent internet during power outages. “Vista is incredibly grateful for the support of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians,” said Bree Valla, superintendent/principal for Vista Del Mar Union School District. “Their support will allow us to ensure that Vista students have continued access to quality technology and are prepared for the 21st century. Thank you, Chumash for your continued support of our community!” College School District was awarded $9,173.96 and will use this funding to upgrade its STEAM Maker's Lab by purchasing a 3D printer and an interactive whiteboard. “We are so excited to be receiving multiple 3D printers from the Technology in Schools Program,” said Anthony Bruemmer, principal for College School District. “This generosity from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians goes a long way in our schools by giving enrichment opportunities to our students that would otherwise not be available to them. Thank you so much for giving back to the youth in our community here in Santa Ynez.” Los Olivos Elementary School was awarded $10,136 to purchase seven MacBooks and AppleCare to better support learning activities conducted on its Promethean interactive display boards. Santa Barbara Unified School District was awarded $10,000 to purchase three digital projectors for its Visual Arts & Design Academy (VADA), a small learning community of about 225 students at Santa Barbara High School. “The students and teachers of the Visual Arts & Design Academy at Santa Barbara High School extend deep gratitude to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and their Technology in Schools Program for generously supporting our state-of-the-art full wall projection system, allowing the highest level of both digital instruction and exhibition of student work,” said Daniel Barnett, VADA program director and art instructor for Santa Barbara High School. “Already in just the first two months of school utilizing the modernized technology, we see a heightened level of student engagement and seriousness. Our observation is that students see and feel they are being invested in and in turn, produce more and better creative work. Thank you for partnering with us to make this happen!” La Colina Junior High School was awarded $8,500 to purchase and install Promethean interactive display boards for its math classrooms to advance student learning beyond what is currently provided, as a new, modern Amplify Desmos Math curriculum is implemented next year. “We are so grateful for the Technology in Schools Program grant,” said Michelle Fomin, math teacher for La Colina Junior High School. “This grant allows our math department to buy interactive smart boards that act as an effective teaching tool for teachers to better deliver content. This tool enables our students to better access our new online-based curriculum and helps us ensure we improve math outcomes for all students. This technology will allow both students and teachers to be 21st-century learners!” Orcutt Academy High School was awarded $3,000 for library equipment, including a Paragon Chargebar Table, adjustable stools and portable charging stations. “We are so excited to get working on using these generous funds from the amazing Chumash Foundation to help our kids here at the Orcutt Academy High School,” said Rhett Carter, principal for Orcutt Academy High School. “We are very grateful for your continued support of students and education in our community!” Saint Louis de Montfort Catholic School was awarded $9,500 to purchase new laptops and TI-84 graphing calculators. “St. Louis de Montfort School is so grateful that the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians offers opportunities to improve and increase technology in classrooms,” said Regina Fox, principal for Saint Louis de Montfort Catholic School. “Thanks to their generosity, our middle school students will have new graphing calculators for their pre-algebra and algebra classes. The Chumash investment in our school community makes a difference in the lives of our students.” San Marcos High School was awarded $5,500 to purchase two Cannon EOS R6 digital cameras, 15 SD cards and an iPad Pro. “San Marcos High School's Yearbook and King's Page are so thankful for being selected as a recipient of the Chumash Foundation's Technology in Schools grant,” said Lara Willbanks, yearbook advisor for San Marcos High School. “We were able to acquire two cameras to help our students document the year. Junior Yearbook Editor Haley Tran said, ‘Thank you so much for these cameras. Our high school is such a busy place, with many activities that we want to document. We were often running out of cameras to photograph events. We are so thankful for this support.'” Lakeview Junior High School was awarded $8,598.60 to purchase Lego Education Spike Prime Set robotics kits for classroom and after-school program use. “Lakeview [robotics program] would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians' Technology in Schools Program for awarding Lakeview Junior High School with this generous technology grant,” said Daniel Coombs, science teacher for Lakeview Junior High School. “Your support provides tools needed to develop and improve our student's communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These skills will be essential as they move on to higher education and career opportunities. Thank you for investing in our students' success.” Santa Ynez Valley Union High School (SYVHS) was awarded $7,000 to fund new hardware, software, accessories and travel expenses to support the launch of its new Esports league. “Our students at SYVHS have wanted to increase our technology presence and establish an eSports league for some time now,” said David Kirkhart, science teacher for Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. “Thanks to the incredible grant made available by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, it will become a reality! The kids are very excited and even with only word of mouth so far, the interest in the [Esports] league continues to grow and grow. We can't wait to see how far the students will take this and how well they will do. Thank you again for helping make this a reality.” In 2015, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians donated the proceeds from its annual charity golf tournament to four local schools in the form of technology grants. Inspired by the success of those grants, the tribe's leadership created the Technology in Schools Program through its foundation to help fulfill the high-tech needs of classrooms in Santa Barbara County. Since its inception, the program has issued more than $550,000 in grants to area schools. The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has donated more than $30 million to hundreds of groups, organizations and schools in the community and across the nation as part of the tribe's long-standing tradition of giving.

The Story x Hammies are two of the brands represented at Le Garage 805 | Photo: Courtesy Want to help our fellow Californian's experiencing the tragedy of wildfires and support local designers? A fashion sale is coming our way, inspired by Austin's Le Garage Sale, with this one benefitting victims of the Los Angeles fires: Le Garage 805. This two-day high fashion shopping experience features local boutiques and designers at affordable prices. It promises to be a weekend full of fun, filled with music, beverages, and undeniable vibrancy. Le Garage is a collaborative sample and overstock sale of esteemed local brands including The Office of Angela Scott, SeaVees, Catherine Gee, The Shopkeepers, and Hammies. “The brands featured at Le Garage 805 are the heart and soul of Santa Barbara's independent fashion scene,” said organizer Gigi Cantillier. “Each boutique, designer, and brand are based here, shaped by the coastal-meets-cosmopolitan spirit of our city. A core part of our mission is to highlight the importance of supporting local — keeping creativity, craftsmanship, and commerce thriving right here at home. Many of these brands are also personal connections, making this event a true reflection of the community we love and the talent it holds.” This specific sale aims to create a positive impact for those affected in our community and out of it by the recent fire tragedy by donating a percentage of proceeds. Cantillier elaborates on the origins of the collective, “Le Garage 805 was born from a desire to unite Santa Barbara's fashion community — a city rich with impeccably curated boutiques and talented designers, yet scattered throughout town. While the local fashion scene is thriving, we have yet to see a singular space that brings these boutiques and designers together in celebration of creativity and style.” She said the event will focus on the connectedness between designers, shoppers, and local brands, sharing support and positivity. “We want supporters to feel the energy of Santa Barbara's creative community the moment they step into Le Garage 805. It's a high-energy, feel-good experience where people can connect, discover, and shop with intention. Whether they're finding a one-of-a-kind piece, meeting the designers behind their favorite brands, or simply soaking in the atmosphere, we hope they leave feeling inspired, connected, and excited to support local,” said Cantillier. This event will be held at The Story at 220 W. Canon Perdido St. Suite B (Downtown Santa Barbara) on February 8 and 9 from 10 a.m.-4p.m. For more information see @legarage805 on Instagram.

This year's Social Justice Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), selected and sponsored by the Fund for Santa Barbara, brings a timely example of investigative journalism with Academy Award–winning director Errol Morris's Separated , a film that uncovers the immigration policies that led to the separation of thousands of families during the first Trump administration. The film, based on journalist Jason Soboroff's 2020 book Separated: Inside an American Tragedy , melds vignettes of one family's plight with interviews of government officials who describe how immigration programs were used as a tool to separate families at the border. The film was selected by a review board from the Fund for SB , an organization that had a large part in creating the Immigrant Legal Defense Center in 2016. Fund for SB Executive Director Eder Gaona-Macedo said this year's award winner is also timely and relevant to what is currently happening in the country, as President Trump's second administration announced a flurry of executive orders that have already brought a wave of immigration enforcement across the country, and here in Santa Barbara County. “Families are still being separated,” he said, “but it's no longer happening at the border — this is happening in our own backyards.” Recent reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents making arrests on the Central Coast have sparked fear in Latino communities, said Gaona-Macedo, who himself crossed the border undocumented as a child before going on to forge a career in nonprofits. In 2017, he helped found the 805 UndocuFund , which raised more than $6 million toward undocumented families in the following years during the pandemic. He says he hopes the film screening and award will “galvanize the region” to continue to support families impacted by immigration policy. “We believe that movies can create movements, and Separated is such an urgent example,” Gaona-Macedo said. “The administration's recent actions have traumatized our immigrant neighbors, inflicting fear and uncertainty. Immigrants are the backbone of our economy — now more than ever, we must stand up to protect their rights.” Gaona-Macedo says there are two major ways to provide assistance during these times: supporting organizations on the ground with donations — only one percent of philanthropic funds go to immigrant protection , he says — and helping to dispel narratives that simply paint migrants as criminals. “For the longest time, immigrants have been dehumanized,” Gaona-Macedo said. “At the end of the day, these are our neighbors; these are our friends; these are our colleagues. They bring so much richness to the community, and that's the humanity we need going on right now.” “There's a lot of noise right now, and the truth needs to come out,” he continued. “The truth is so much more powerful, and once we look at each other as humans, as people, we really start to take away this narrative.” Separated will be playing three times this week: Wednesday, February 5, at 6 p.m. at SBIFF Film Center; Friday, February 7, at noon at Riviera Theatre; and Sunday, February 9, at 6 p.m. at SBIFF Film Center.

By Summer Knight2025 PresidentSanta Barbara Association of Realtors Wildfires are an unfortunate reality in many parts of California, especially our

40th annual fest brings the best of the best, plus more freebies than ever before.

#4 Diesel Lowe got off to a hot start and set the tone for Santa Barbara. | Credit: Gary Kim The Santa Barbara High boys' basketball team had no interest in sharing the Channel League title with its arch rival San Marcos. A fast start turned into an avalanche of momentum for Santa Barbara. The Dons jumped out to a 39-8 halftime lead and captured the outright Channel League title with a 73-37 victory over the Royals on Monday night at J.R. Richards gymnasium. “In the Oxnard game something clicked defensively with our intensity and communication, something we've been working on all year,” said Santa Barbara High coach Greg Zuffelato. “It's a tough environment, we have all seniors, it was the perfect storm.” San Marcos came into the game with a 21-6 overall record and had an opportunity to share the Channel league title with Santa Barbara with a victory, but could not seize the moment. “We just did not match their force more than anything. We couldn't get to our spots. They were just ready to go and we weren't,” said San Marcos coach Matthew Jordan. “I think the environment was a little too big for us tonight.” The environment was not too big for Santa Barbara High senior Diesel Lowe, who has excelled when the lights have been brightest this season. That was especially true against San Marcos as Lowe scored the Dons' first eight points of the game, with a fastbreak dunk sandwiched between two three-pointers, the second of which gave Santa Barbara an 8-2 lead with 6:15 remaining in the first quarter. Santa Barbara extended its lead to 18-6 with just under a minute remaining in the first quarter on a fastbreak layup by Carter Battle. San Marcos continued to struggle on the offense in the second quarter as the Dons outscored the Royals 21-2 in the period. Sophomore Cayleb Miller spearheaded Santa Barbara's second quarter surge with two three-pointers off the bench. Luke Zuffelato was a menace defensively for Santa Barbara holding San Marcos' leading scorer Koji Hefner to zero first half points. Hefner scored 12 points in the second half to lead San Marcos in scoring for the game, but the damage was done. In addition, Zuffelato, who recently committed to UC Santa Barbara, finished with a game-high 23 points. His fellow seniors Lowe and Battle scored 19 and 16 points respectively. “We just held Oxnard to a season low 41 points so just bringing that same energy to this game” said Luke Zuffelato. “That's what I'm going to bring to UCSB and what will separate me from a lot of players, my defensive mentality, my heart, my everything.” With the regular season now complete the two teams will now prepare for the playoffs, which begin next week. Santa Barbara will likely be competing in the CIF-SS Division 2AA playoffs and San Marcos will likely be in 2A depending on how the final Southern Section rankings shake out..

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