It was a banner day for the SBCC women's basketball team on Sunday as the Vaqueros captured the San Diego Knights' Colbert Classic, Destinee King was named tournament MVP and coach Sandrine Krul notched her 200th win.
Santa Barbara beat the host school, San Diego City, 68-54 in the championship game.
Kesler Johnson had a huge game off the bench with season highs of 18 points and 12 rebounds in 21 minutes. She had 14 points and nine boards in the second half, when the Vaqueros (7-6) stretched a 27-23 halftime lead to 12 points at the end of the third period (51-39). They opened the last quarter on a 13-5 run and went ahead by 20 points, 64-44, on a free throw by Elissa Root with 4:44 to play.
King, a 5-10 guard/forward from Antelope, Calif. near Sacramento, scored 17 points and grabbed 14 of her team's 61 rebounds. The Vaqueros surpassed 60 rebounds for the third straight game, beating the Knights 61-36 on the boards.
It was the sixth straight double-double for King and her ninth of the season. In three wins this weekend, King averaged 18 points, 14 rebounds and 4.3 steals.
Kay Phosakham also made the all-tournament team for the Vaqueros, who won their first tourney title in three years. Jocelin Petatan recorded season bests with 12 rebounds, nine assists and three steals.
Samera Henry topped San Diego City (3-5) with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
"San Diego is better than their record suggests," said Krul. "They're fast and athletic. Our defense won this tournament for us. We held three teams in the 50s (in points) and topped 60 rebounds in every game. That saying is true: Defense wins championships.
"To win a championship with all 12 players playing and get the tourney MVP and my 200th win? That's a pretty great day."
Both teams shot around 33 percent and the Vaqueros made just 1-11 from 3-point country. But they limited San Diego to 1-18 shooting from long range and forced 19 turnovers. The Vaqueros held their three tourney opponents to shooting percentages of 29.4, 28.2 and 32.8. They outrebounded them by 24 per game (62.7 to 38.7).
Krul is 200-145 in her 12th season as head coach. She has more wins than any SBCC women's basketball coach after passing Ellen O'Connor (183) early last season.
"I love this team, they work so hard," said Krul. "I'm not going to quit coaching until I get 1,000 victories. I love the game that much – the good, the bad and the ugly. I love it all."
She'll go for No. 201 on Friday when the Vaqueros play in the Antelope Valley Holiday Tournament against Antelope Valley at 7 p.m.
