Hot first half shooting leads UCSB to win over San Jose State

KEYT on November 9, 2025

Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT). – Colin Smith scored a career-high 24 points as UCSB used a big first half to beat San Jose State 85-74 to move to 2-0 on the season.

Smith and Aidan Mahaney each scored 12 first half points as the Gauchos led 45-28 at the break.

UCSB shot over 62% from the field in the first half which included 8 of 14 from three-point distance.

The UConn transfer Mahaney made four 3-pointers in the first half and finished the game with 17 points.

San Jose State clawed their way back into the game behind a game-high 30 points from Colby Garland who made 11-of-13 from the field.

Garland’s short floater pulled the Spartans within 70-65 with 5:17 remaining.

But Colin Smith answered right back with a baseline three pointer and the Gauchos were able to hang on their lead.

Smith went 8-of-11 from the field.

Utah transfer Miro Little stuffed the stat sheet for the Gauchos with 11 points, a game-high 8 rebounds and a game-tying best 6 assists(Mahaney also had 6 helpers).

Hosana Kitenge added 10 points including a couple of key inside buckets down the stretch.

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Cate wins 5-set thriller to capture CIF-SS D7 girls volleyball title

KEYT on November 9, 2025

Mike Klan

CARPINTERIA, Calif. (KEYT)- Evangeline Little had the dig and Elise Tsai delivered a cross-court set to star Oyin Opawumi who hit through a double block that set off a wild celebration for Cate High School.

(Cate celebrates their first volleyball CIF-SS crown).

The Rams outlasted West Valley of Hemet 17-15 in the decisive fifth set to win the CIF-Southern Section Division 7 championship in girls volleyball (25-16, 25-27, 25-17, 21-25, 17-15).

Opawumi had 26 kills and 26 digs as the senior leads the Rams to their first CIF-SS title in program history.

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Friday Football Focus Week 11: Playoff Edition

KEYT on November 8, 2025

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT). –

CIF First Round Playoffs:Segment One: San Jacinto 30, Bishop Diego 29 (OT), Oaks Christian 16, St. Bonaventure 13; Nipomo 35, Atascadero 34 (2OT); Dos Palos 14, Santa Ynez 0; Arroyo Grande 62, Sunnyside 14

Segment Two: Clovis West 28, St. Joseph 7; Cabrillo 35, Hoover 14

Segment 3: South Pasadena 42, San Marcos 17; Pacifica 42, Oak Hills 21

Segment 4: Ventura 42, Salesian 31; Agoura 35, Summit 7

Other Results:

CIF-Central Section:

Division 2: San Luis Obispo 42, Lemoore 32; Central Valley Christian 37, Lompoc 13

Division 3: Shafter 38, Mission Prep 17; Kennedy 63, Paso Robles 28; Wasco 57, Righetti 6

Division 5: Morro Bay 52, Delano 28

CIf-Southern Section:

Division 4: Villa Park 28, Westlake 24

Division 5: Loyola 17, Newbury Park 14; Rio Hondo Prep 50, Thousand Oaks 34

Division 6: Moorpark 31, ML King 28

Division 7: Calabasas 31, El Segundo 28

Division 9: Cerritos 16, Fillmore 7

Division 10: Oak Park 17, Village Christian 15

Division 12: Grace 28, Rialto 27; Santa Paula 27, Ocean View 7

Division 13: Buena Park 42, Nordhoff 40

Division 14: South El Monte 46, Channel Islands 7

8-Player Football:

Central Section: Fresno Christian 74, Orcutt Academy 20

Southern Section:

Divison 1: Avalon 45, Thacher 14

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Santa Barbara County selects Garrett Huff as new fire chief

KEYT on November 7, 2025

News Channel 3-12

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Santa Barbara County selected Garrett Huff as its new fire chief, succeeding former chief Mark Hartwig, starting on Dec. 8.

Below is a full press release from Santa Barbara County on the new appointment:

County Executive Officer Mona Miyasato announced on November 7, 2025, that Garrett Huff has been selected to be the next Fire Chief for Santa Barbara County.  The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to ratify the appointment at the November 18, 2025 Board of Supervisors meeting.

Huff is currently the Deputy Chief of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. His first day will be December 8, 2025. He will assume the duties from Chief Mark Hartwig, who is retiring on December 7, 2025, after six years as the Santa Barbara County Fire Chief.

Huff began his career in firefighting in 1999 and came to the County of Santa Barbara in 2005.  Over the past 20 years with the County, he has worked his way up the ranks from starting as a Firefighter/Paramedic on an engine to most recently the Deputy Fire Chief.  In this position he oversees the County’s Emergency Medical Services and the Regional Fire Communications Center.  In addition, he has served on the Incident Management Team for numerous fires, the Montecito Debris Flow, the Conception Boat Tragedy, and the County’s response to the COVID pandemic.

“I am deeply honored to be chosen as the next Fire Chief of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. Having grown up and spent my career serving within this department and county, this opportunity is both humbling and profoundly meaningful. The men and women of this organization embody the highest standards of professionalism, compassion, and dedication. It is a privilege to lead them as we continue to serve and protect the citizens of Santa Barbara County. I look forward to building upon our department’s proud history and working collaboratively to ensure a safe and resilient future for our communities,” said Huff.

The County Fire Department operates 24/7 with 320 personnel and an operating budget of $130 million.  There are 16 fire stations, and each is equipped with multiple firefighters, engines and Primary Advance Life Support (ALS) to directly serve about 172,000 people in the unincorporated areas such as Orcutt, Vandenberg Village, and most of the Santa Ynez Valley, along with acting as the fire agency for  the cities of Buellton, Goleta, and Solvang.  In addition to fire station response, the Fire Department utilizes helicopters, bulldozers, rescue watercraft and hand crews for various disasters.  The Department oversees the new Regional Fire Communications Center which dispatches the closest available resource to fire and emergency medical calls throughout the County.  In addition, the Department oversees the Office of Emergency Management which coordinates emergency preparedness, response, and recovery for the entire county.

“After a nationwide search, I’m confident that Deputy Chief Huff will continue to lead the department in the right direction. He has proven leadership skills, solid fire experience and immense respect from myself, County leadership and the staff of the Fire Department.  He knows this department from the bottom to the top and has worked throughout the divisions of the Department to have a full understanding of the work the Department does and the responsibilities of a Fire Chief.  I value his expertise in this field and servant heart to protect our community,” said County Executive Officer Mona Miyasato. 

Huff received his B.S. in Fire and Emergency Management from Kaplan University, his A.S. in Fire Technology from Oxnard College, and is continuing his education with completing his Master’s in Public Administration this coming summer.  Huff also has several certifications for his field and is involved in professional organizations across the state, including serving as a Board Member on the California 9-1-1 Advisory Board.  Throughout his career he received multiple recognitions including being named the 2016 Firefighter of the Year for the County of Santa Barbara.

“I also want to take the opportunity to thank Chief Mark Hartwig. With a career spanning 33 years, he has been a knowledgeable, dedicated and bold leader, always striving to advance the fire service for the betterment of our community and the entire state. We appreciate that he has shared his immense experience and leadership with us over these last six years,” said CEO Miyasato.

For more information on the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, go to Home – Santa Barbara County Fire Department

Santa Barbara County

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Nordhoff’s Michael Dennie Leads Rangers Back to Playoffs After Record-Breaking Season

KEYT on November 7, 2025

Joey Vergilis

OJAI, Calif. (KEYT) – On this week’s Walkthrough with Joey, Nordhoff’s standout junior quarterback Michael Dennie discussed the Rangers’ return to the postseason and the journey that got them there.

“It feels good,” Dennie said. “It’s kind of a relief that we’re finally here. It feels like the season’s gone by really fast. But now that we’re here, we’re just preparing for Buena Park.”

It’s been a breakout year for both Dennie and the Rangers, who bounced back strong after an early setback.

“We’ve been working really hard,” he said. “We had that first loss, we thought we were going to win, we under-prepared, and after that, we didn’t really let that happen again. This year’s been going by really fast for us, and we don’t want it to end. We want to go all the way, and we’re going to make sure it happens.”

Dennie’s season hit a high point in Week 9 when he set the Nordhoff single-game passing record with 504 yards and six touchdowns in a dominant win over Carpinteria.

For most players, shattering two school records in one game would be a night to remember, but for Nordhoff’s rising junior gunslinger, it was just another Friday under the lights.

“That night, it was just like any other,” Dennie recalled. “We prepared for it, did our thing before the game. We had our running back, Desi Canfield, out that week, so I knew I’d have to step up. My guys were making plays out there and helping me out a lot. I wasn’t going for stats, I just wanted to win. I didn’t even know I broke the record until I got taken out in the fourth and somebody told me.”

For Dennie, there’s something special about every home game under the lights in Ojai.

“When I’m there, I like to look around before the game, like, ‘This is what I’m fighting for,’” the 6-foot, 170-pound signal caller said. “I love the scenery. When we’re out there playing, you can just look around, we’ve got the meadows right next to us. Hopefully soon we’ll have our new stadium up, and it’s going to be real fun next year.”

Before every Friday night, Dennie keeps things simple with his tight end, Elliot Sheets.

“Me and Elliot like to go to Subway, get our sandwiches, then head back to my house,” Dennie said. “We’ll watch some film, relax, make sure our bodies are right before the game.”

After a record-breaking regular season, junior QB Michael Dennie has the Rangers dreaming big. 

The first step in that dream happens tonight in Round 1 of the CIF-SS Division 13 playoffs, when the Rangers head to Orange County to take on the Buena Park Coyotes at 7 p.m.

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UCSB loses lopsided game at #3 UCLA

KEYT on November 7, 2025

Mike Klan

WESTWOOD, Calif. (KEYT) -UCLA’s three-guard lineup of Gabriela Jaquez, Kiki Rice and Utah transfer Gianna Kneepkens each scored 20 points or more in the third-ranked Bruins’ 85-50 rout of UC Santa Barbara on Thursday.

Jaquez shot 7 of 11 from the floor for 21 points and had six rebounds, Rice made all seven of her free throws for 20 points to go with eight rebounds, and Kneepkens finished with 20 points. Jaquez and Kneepkens each hit four of UCLA’s 10 3-pointers.

The last time at least three players scored 20 or more for the Bruins was on Nov. 12, 2023, against Bellarmine. In that 113-64 win, Jaquez had 30 points, Charisma Osborne 24, Lauren Betts 22 and Londynn Jones 21.

The Bruins (2-0) got 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists from Betts in their home opener at Pauley Pavilion. They were coming off a 24-point win over San Diego State in their season opener Monday.

Rice and Jaquez combined for 26 points the last time the teams played on Dec. 3, 2022. The Bruins have won eight in a row and are 17-2 all-time against coach Cori Close’s alma mater.

Olivia Bradley led UCSB with 11 points. Julia Puente-Valverde added 10 while in foul trouble.

The Gauchos (1-1) trailed 21-17 after the first quarter.

UCLA dominated the second, outscoring the Gauchos 30-9 to lead 51-26 at halftime.

The Gauchos were outscored 23-17 in the third, when UCLA ran off 16 straight points, but by then they were down 31 points. They were held to just seven points in the fourth.

UCLA controlled the boards, 43-24, with all 10 Bruins grabbing at least one rebound. The Bruins had 10 steals and 22 assists to eight for UCSB.

Betts’ sister, touted freshman Sienna Betts, missed her second straight game with a lower leg injury.

Up next

UC Santa Barbara plays at Seattle on Sunday.

UCLA plays No. 6 Oklahoma in Sacramento on Monday.

(Article courtesy of Associated Press).

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CIF-SS Boys Water Polo quarterfinals: DP outlasts Buena in ot; San Marcos ends season

KEYT on November 7, 2025

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Quarterfinals: Dos Pueblos 11, Buena 10

Lucas Neushul scored a team-high 5 goals including one in overtime.

CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Quarterfinals: Loyola 13, San Marcos 10

Jack Kramer scored a team-high 5 goals as San Marcos ends year 18-15

(Pepperdine-commit Will Stuart scored 2 goals for the Royals. Entenza Design).

Dos Pueblos is at Loyola on Wednesday in CIF-SS D1 semifinal.

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CIF Volleyball finals wrap-up: Morro Bay wins, Nipomo, Arroyo Grande and Ventura come up short

KEYT on November 7, 2025

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT). –

CIF-Central Section Division II Final: Central Valley Christian 3, Arroyo Grande 2

CIF-Central Section Division III Final: Bullard 3, Nipomo 0

CIF-Central Section Division V Final: Morro Bay 3, North 0

CIF-Southern Section Division IV Final: La Canada 3, Ventura 2

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Melodee And Ashlee Buzzard May Have Been Seen In Utah

KEYT on November 6, 2025

Jarrod Zinn

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) – Word is reaching us of new sightings in the multi-state search for Melodee Buzzard, missing now from her Vandenberg Village home for more than 3-weeks.

The mystery surrounding the 9-year-old’s disappearance has captured national attention.

Investigators say they’re focusing on stops the Buzzards made during a three-day road trip.

We’re hearing about new leads being pursued along the route Melodee and her mother, Ashlee, took last month across multiple states.

Surveillance images show Melodee and Ashlee wearing wigs the day they rented a white Chevy Malibu. 

“It’s a crazy situation and horrible,” says Abbigail Harris, who lives in Junction, Utah. “And the little girl should be found.”

Investigators determined the three day trip took them as far away as Nebraska.

“Why are you changing your license plate?” asks Rilee Pinneo, who lives in Green River, Utah. “But then you come back and you’re not willing to talk about it or your daughter or anything.”

Employees at a gas station in Green River, Utah say Santa Barbara county sheriff’s investigators asked for video surveillance footage that falls right within the timeline and roadmap.

“We are the oasis in the middle of nowhere. Right? You’re coming from so far either way,” says Pinneo. “It’s just super like, suspicious, like. Why are you making her wear wigs? Why are you wearing wigs?”

And in Garfield county, Utah, an employee at another gas station says she saw Ashlee leave with an unidentified woman with purple hair.

“There’s a lot of nature, a lot of woods around here,” says Harris. “So it’s like if this is where she was the day before she got home. Who knows? You know, anything could happen.”

Santa Barbara county sheriff’s investigators and the FBI are asking for the public’s help in locating Melodee.

The Santa Barbara county D.A.’s office is also assisting in the investigation.

If you have seen Melodee or have any information, you can call the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division (805) 681-4150.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can provide information through the tip line at (805) 681-4171 or online at https://www.sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip/.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With The Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

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Land Use Changes Come as a Concern for Carpinteria

KEYT on November 6, 2025

John Palminteri

CARPINTERIA, Calif. (KEYT) – There could be some more high density housing in some areas of the South Coast, including around Carpinteria. 

Some locations mapped out for the changes are controversial.

The California Coastal Commission is discussing the Santa Barbara County plan to rezone locations on Bailard Ave., Via Real and Foothill. 

It’s about 31 acres in total.

The Carpinteria City Council is concerned about the impacts on parking, traffic, population and city services with the additional homes and the needs linked to those sites.

The Commission is meeting in Sacramento.

Public comments are being take via Zoom to speak to the commissioners prior to the discussion and vote.

(More details, video and photos will be added here later today.)

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