Saugus Runs Out of Magic and Falls to Santa Barbara

Saugus High’s magical mystery tour through the Southern Section I-A Division basketball playoffs nearly knocked another unsuspecting audience dead Tuesday at Santa Barbara City College. But Santa Barbara High proved too savvy in the end as the Dons edged the upstart Centurions, 50-41, in a semifinal game that was much closer than it would seem.

It was a vintage effort by a Saugus team that was slower, shorter and not as strong as Santa Barbara (25-5). Saugus Coach John Clark ran an offense so patient that at times it resembled a walk-through practice drill.

And yet, when the fourth quarter rolled around with the score tied, Saugus (20-10) and its zone defense just couldn’t quite stop Santa Barbara when it had to. Ultimately, talent won out over heart.

With the score tied, 31-31 after three quarters, Matt Purdy made back-to-back three-point baskets that gave Santa Barbara a 37-31 lead. Saugus came back on jump shots by Steve Tampus and Greg Yumbar to make it 37-35 with 3 minutes 45 seconds left.

But from there, Santa Barbara did what it had to: make its free throws. Purdy, son of Coach Bob Purdy, scored 11 of his game-high 19 in the fourth quarter. He also set the tone by making five of his six free throws to extend the lead to 44-36 with 1:10 left, effectively ending the game. The Dons made 11 of 12 free throws in the period.

“I just knew I had to get those shots,” Purdy said of his three-point baskets. “I wasn’t going to let it go down to the last minute. They’re too good of a team.”

Santa Barbara took a quick 7-0 lead and made Saugus look as if it belonged somewhere else. But Saugus stayed calm, at times passing the ball for three minutes before taking a shot. The deliberate offense produced a 14-5 second-quarter surge led by reserve Josh Hinrichs, who scored all 10 of his points in the period.

“Well, we don’t quit,” said Clark, whose team lede 21-20 at halftime. “I’m proud of my kids.

“Hey, we got beat by a bigger and better team. And yet we were still right there.”

Yumbar, who stood out for Saugus all season, made five of eight shots from the field and finished with a team-high 15 points. But in the fourth quarter when they needed to most, Saugus’ guards couldn’t get the ball in to Yumbar, who was closely guarded by Purdy.

As his team celebrated in anticipation of the Southern Section title game against Huntington Beach Marina, Santa Barbara’s elder Purdy sighed and looked toward Saugus’ locker area.

“That team,” he said, “gave us a hell of a battle.”