Plamen Hristov scored 22 of his game-high 29 points in the second half to lift the Cuesta College men's basketball team (12-7) to a 74-63 win over Butte in the consolation semifinals Saturday at the Allan Hancock tournament in Santa Maria.

Hristov shot 9 of 10 at the free-throw line and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

Cuesta turned the ball over 12 times in the first half and both teams shot under 50 percent before the break, leaving the score tied at 25-25.

Paul Candiff added 12 points for the Cougars, who shot 36 free throws in the game, making 23, compared to Butte, which shot 11 for 18.

Cuesta will face Western State Conference rival Santa Barbara City in the consolation championship at 1 p.m. today at Hancock.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Cypress 64, Cuesta 48

Miriam Zabinsky scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and Courtney Chadwick added 12 points but the Cougars fell at the Grossmont Tournament in San Diego.

Cuesta shot just 26 percent from the field compared to Cypress, which shot 48 percent.

Aria Johnson added eight points and seven rebounds, and Alyssa Palma had five points, four assists and four rebounds for the Cougars.

Chadwick, Palma and Johnson struggled from the field, all shooting less than 30 percent in the game.
Sloan Toaner had 17 points and six rebounds for Cypress.