Serra’s Season Comes to an End : Boys’ basketball: Santa Clara’s Art Barron scores 23 points in 64-52 victory over Cavaliers, who finish 15-16.

Art Barron can remember the last time he scored this many points.

“Last week,” he said, “at the park.”

Santa Clara is known for its balanced offense, but Barron scored 23 points Thursday--13 in the fourth quarter--to help the host Saints defeat Serra, 64-52, in a boys’ Southern Region Division IV semifinal game at Ventura College.

Barron matched his season high in scoring, set in the second game of the season.

Barron scored eight consecutive points for Santa Clara during one fourth-quarter stretch. He made seven of 10 free throws and two three-point baskets during the quarter.

Three-time defending regional champion Santa Clara (27-3) plays Lincoln in the final at Cal State Dominguez at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Serra finished 15-16.

“This game was a boost,” said Barron, one of Santa Clara’s five senior starters. “I’m going out this year, and I want to go out right.”

Santa Clara, which led by six points after three quarters, went on a 10-2 run to begin the fourth quarter and took a 54-39 lead with 4 minutes 17 seconds left. Barron made two three-point shots during the run.

Serra got no closer than 12 points thereafter.

One of the Cavaliers’ strengths was its size. They out-rebounded Santa Clara, 40-30, and had 20 offensive rebounds to Santa Clara’s seven.

But the Saints made five of 10 three-point shots--Barron made four--and made 21 of 42 shots overall. Serra made only 19 of 44 field goals and 10 of 17 free throws.

The Saints contained each of the Cavaliers’ high scorers. Dan Carpenter (24.3 points a game) scored 13 points, Akeli Jackson (22.2) had nine, Arthur Tate (16.5) had 10, and Michael Boyd (12.2) had five.

Isaiah Mustafa added 16 points for Santa Clara, and Chris Cole had 13.

The Saints led, 31-23, at halftime. They went on a nine-point run to take a 24-15 lead with 5:09 left in the half. Serra turned the ball over four times during the run.

On back-to-back defensive trips in the second quarter, Cole displayed some of the defensive skills that made him Southern Section Division IV player of the year as a junior. He stole a ball on a two-on-two fast break and blocked a layup attempt by 6-foot-5 forward Tate.

“Santa Clara is such a well-coached team,” Serra Coach Dwan Hurt said. “Whoever they face is going to have some trouble with them. They’ve been there before.”