In Santa Barbara, Nice Guys Can Finish First

Part of sports tradition requires teammates to shake hands and offer high-fives in a display of unity.

The dirty little secret, though, is that some players don’t like each other, whether it’s because of jealousy or selfishness. When the going gets tough, the carefully choreographed gestures are exposed for what they are -- phony.

At Santa Barbara High, however, there’s nothing fake about how members of the boys’ basketball team treat each other.

“We’re all best friends,” center Santiago Aguirre said.

Their sincere handshakes, taps on the back and warm greetings on and off the court help explain the Dons’ 20-3 record and No. 2 ranking in the Southern Section Division II-AA.

“It’s one of the most enjoyable years I’ve had,” said Coach Jeff Lavender, in his seventh season at Santa Barbara. “These kids have character and integrity.”

Most of the 12 players have known each other since elementary school. They could also excel in an academic decathlon. Reserve Joey Romeo is headed to Princeton. Starting forward Coury Clemens has received one grade lower than an A in high school and wants to attend Stanford and become a doctor.

It’s no wonder Lavender has the option of mixing up defenses on every possession and calling out a different offensive play each time down the court because his players are smart enough to adjust.

The top players are the 6-foot-7 Aguirre and 6-1 junior point guard Taylor Rochestie.

Aguirre, a senior, is averaging 15.9 points and 7.0 rebounds. He just turned 17, has excellent post moves and is still growing into his 225-pound body.

“He’s a gentle giant,” Lavender said.

Aguirre’s parents, who were born in Mexico, work two jobs each so the family can live in Santa Barbara.

“They work all the time and still make it to all my games,” he said.

Rochestie averages 15.8 points, has made 40 three-pointers and is shooting 79% from the free-throw line. He’s the team’s most energetic and dynamic player.

“He’s very savvy and skilled as a shooter, passer and dribbler,” Lavender said. “He does some amazing things. I love his competitiveness and fire on the court.”

The Dons wouldn’t be successful without the 6-2 Clemens, who is the team’s best defender and contributes as a scorer, rebounder and leader.

“You don’t see many kids talking and coaching on the court, and he’s the best I’ve had,” Lavender said. “I have three daughters, and if my daughters were older, I’d be after him to marry one of them because you wish he were your kid.”

Michael Fisher, a 6-6 senior who averages 5.8 rebounds, has been sidelined this month with a broken nose. The other starter is 5-11 senior Louie De La Cerda, who is solid on defense and can hit open shots.

Off the bench, Santa Barbara has 6-10 senior Paul Kovacs and 6-2 sophomore David Noel.

Santa Barbara has beaten North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, Oxnard and Crescenta Valley, among others. Its losses have come to Westlake Village Westlake twice and to Oxnard.

The players know they have to overcome the perception of being soft because of where they live. It’s no secret that Santa Barbara is paradise. The median home price in Santa Barbara County last year was $744,000.

“It’s the nicest place in the world to live,” Rochestie said. “The weather, the beaches, the mountains, the atmosphere. Any time of the year, you wake up and you expect it to be a perfect day.”

The city’s commitment to education, clean beaches and safe neighborhoods makes families want to stick around for generations.

And, for whatever reason, this season’s boys’ basketball team has come together at the right time.

“We’re all at the top of our game,” Rochestie said.

It also doesn’t hurt that every player pulls for the other.

No one has concluded that team camaraderie is a requirement for winning a championship, but it sure makes playing basketball fun.

“It’s the ultimate thing,” Clemens said.

Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.