We Play Hard!

Ventura 54, Foothill 61

VC Annual Barbeque Fundraiser

January 5, 2008

Box Score

     It was supposed to be a night of celebration.  With the largest crowd of the season on hand thanks to the annual barbeque fundraiser, Ventura wooed the fans with excellent defense, pinpoint passing, and outstanding offensive execution for the first 19 minutes of the game, building a commanding 37-18 advantage on North #2 Foothill College.  But a pair of crucial VC turnovers before a halftime ceremony honoring the Pirates' favorite teachers, and a second half meltdown that included 15 turnovers and 25-percent VC shooting led to the demise and a 61-52 VC loss.

     Ventura (15-5) is beginning to make a habit of starting slowly.  VC missed their first four shots and a free throw before Jessica Jameson connected on a charity toss to make the score 4-1.  VC scored the next four points, taking a 5-4 lead on Julie Heurung's lay-up off of a Michelle Santizo assist.  Foothill (17-2) came back to take a 12-9 lead at the 14:34 mark of the before the Pirates' gave the fans a stroll down memory lane.  It seemed like old times as the Pirates went on a 18-0 run that included contributions from seven different players.  Sara Nicholson scored eight points during the run while Heurung, Randi Hicks, Indira Kaljo, Jenelle Conklin, Santizo, and Donielle Griggs all netted scores.  Despite some Foothill free throws, the Pirate express continued with Hicks and Kaljo keeping it going.  Lindsay Trout  nailed a 3-pointer from deep in the left corner at the 1:21 mark to give the Pirates a 37-18 lead.  Three Owl charity tosses, a pair of Pirate turnovers, and Foothill lay-up at the buzzer gave Foothill some momentum heading into intermission, trailing 37-23.

     Ventura started the second half badly, and it got worse from there.  VC had three turnovers and a missed shot in their first four possessions as Foothill whittled the lead down to seven, 37-30.  Hicks stopped the bleeding temporarily with a turn-around jumper at the 17:25 mark, and  Kaljo trifecta a minute later put the Pirate advantage back to 12, 42-30.  VC managed but one field goal over the next six minutes, but the defense held fast as Jameson's bucket with 10:43 remaining made the score 46-36 in favor of the Pirates.  The VC offense continued to spit and sputter, netting but one more field goal over the next seven minutes.  This time Foothill took advantage, taking a 49-48 lead with 5:50 on the clock, and building a 60-52 lead before settling in with the 61-54 win.

     Hicks led the Pirates on offense with 12 points and Kaljo contributed 10.  Nicholson finished with eight points for VC.  Kaljo pulled down 10 rebounds  while Santizo and hicks each grabbed seven boards and Heurung pulled down six.  Santizo also handed out six assists.

     Ventura opens defense of their Western State Conference North Division title on the road at Cuesta in San Luis Obispo on Wednesday Jan. 9.  Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 pm with the Pirate men following at 7:30.  The Pirates return home on Saturday Jan. 12 against LA Pierce with a 5:30 pm tip.