Rally Keeps Streak of Santa Clara Alive, 48-45

Santa Clara High has won 61 consecutive Frontier League basketball games.

But don’t let that sound so easy.

The Saints, overcoming a 29-19 third-quarter deficit, defeated host Santa Paula, 48-45, Friday night in a league opener.

Senior point guard Art Barron scored 20 points for the Saints in what was a duel of outside shooters. The Cardinals’ Joey Ramirez scored a game-high 27 points. Ramirez had six three-point baskets, Barron had five.

The first half belonged to Ramirez, the second to Barron. Santa Clara Coach Lou Cvijanovich was just waiting for his players to wake up.

“The only thing I was worried about was getting them to do what I wanted them to do,” he said.

That meant making shots, something the Saints (12-3) did with only 20% accuracy in the first half.

Santa Paula (9-4), runner-up in the Frontier League last year, went on a 19-7 run during the second and third quarters to take a 29-19 lead with 1 minute 15 seconds left in the third.

Barron’s three-point basket moments later did little to silence the partisan Cardinal crowd.

But Barron hit two more three-point shots as the final period began.

After Barron’s third three-point basket, teammate Isaiah Mustafa (nine rebounds) stole the inbounds pass and scored. On the other end, Ramirez missed a shot. After he tangled with the Saints’ Stevie Amar, a jump ball was called, and the possession arrow flashed in favor of Santa Clara.

That propelled the Saints to an 18-0 run, giving them a 37-29 lead with a little more than two minutes left.