We Play Hard!

Ventura 60, Mt. San Antonio 65

December 2, 2007

Championship, Gilcrest Invitational @ Sequoias

Box Score

     At Ventura College We Play Hard means giving one's best effort all of the time.  The Pirates battled valiantly for 40 minutes, but dropped a 65-60 decision to Mt. San Antonio in the championship game of the Gilcrest Invitational at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia Sunday.  The game, VC's second in eight days to the Mounties, ranked #2 in Southern California, was close from tip-off to final buzzer, but the Pirates just could not get over the hump despite a great team effort.

     Ventura (8-3) began the outing uncharacteristically cold from the field, misfiring on its first eight shot attempts.  The Pirate defense held fast, however, until Indira Kaljo got the offense rolling with 16:36 remaining in the opening half.  The bucket pulled VC back to within 4-2.  Trailing by five, 11-6, Eja Wong connected on a 3-pointer from the left baseline off of a Jessica Jameson drive and dish to prevent the ensuing 5-0 Mountie run from being more damaging.  Mt. SAC (12-1) held its biggest lead of the ball game following that run, 16-9, with 12:40 left in the period.   VC maintained the seven point deficit until Lindsay Trout connected from long range at the 8:41 mark to pull the Pirates to within four, 20-16; and Michelle Santizo's trifecta from deep in the right corner off of Jenelle Conklin's extra pass made the score 24-23 with 2:47 remaining.  Mt. SAC connected on a desperation 3-pointer from 35 feet at the buzzer to set the halftime margin at 32-27.

     Ventura fell behind by seven five minutes into the second half, 38-31 before a 6-0 run punctuated by Kaljo's bucket off of a Wong dime at the 10:58 point brought the Pirates back to within one point, 38-37.  After a pair of missed SAC free throws and a Mountie turnover, Wong dialed long distance for the second time of the evening, giving VC their first lead of the game, 40-38 with 10:10 on the clock.  The teams see-sawed back -and-forth over the next two minutes, with Kaljo connecting from downtown at the 7:52 mark, giving Ventura a 45-44 advantage.  A 5-0 Mt. SAC run gave the Mounties the lead for good, but the Pirates continuously fought back to close the gap.  Kaljo hit a 3-pointer with 5:23 on the clock to make the score 51-50, Mt. SAC; and Conklin drove the left baseline connecting on a reverse lay-up with 2:19 remaining to make the score 60-57.  But in the end, Mt. SAC made the plays they needed down the stretch to hold off the Pirates, 65-60.

     Kaljo led the VC with 23 points and seven rebounds while Conklin was limited to six points, two assists, and two steals on the night.  Both were named to the All-Tournament team for their efforts throughout the weekend.  Wong dropped nine points and Julie Heurung pulled down five boards for the Pirates.  Santizo dished out three assists and Conklin led the defense by taking two charges.

     Ventura will take a couple of days off before preparing to return to the Moorpark College Classic next Friday, December 7, against LA Valley College.  Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 pm at the Raider Pavilion.