We Play Hard!

Ventura 106, Porterville 30

November 23, 2007

VC-Kiwanis Tournament of Champions, 1st Round

Box Score    See Photos

     It is becoming a habit for the Pirates - Everyone scores, everyone rebounds, VC wins.  For the third time this season, every Pirate notched points and rebounds as five players scored in double-figures to lead Ventura past Porterville 106-30 in the opening round of the VC-Kiwanis Tournament of Champions at the Athletic Event Center.  The Pirates (4-1) will play Contra Costa College at 7:00 pm Saturday night in one of the tournament's semi-final games while 2-time defending state champion Mt. San Antonio will take on San Jose in the 5:00 pm semi-final.

     There were some shot clock difficulties during the Pirates' opening possession, stopping play three times in the first 15 seconds of the game.  That was all that could stop VC on this night, as Jessica Jameson and Jenelle Conklin combined to score on Ventura's first five shot attempts, giving VC a 10-0 advantage with 17:28 remaining in the first half.  It was a 16-0 Pirate lead before Porterville (1-4) broke the ice at the 13:44 mark.  The lead passed 20-points on Michelle Santizo's lay-up off of a Sara Nicholson assist with 9:45 remaining, making the score 27-5.  The Pirates closed out the half in which they shot nearly 66 percent from the floor (23-35) with a Donielle Griggs steal, followed by Julie Heurung's lead pass to Lindsay Trout for a buzzer beating 10-footer from the right wing, making VC's halftime lead 55-9.

     The second period saw more of the same as Ventura seemingly scored at will against their overmatched opponent.  The Pirates reached the century mark for the first time since their 109-53 drubbing of Allan Hancock in February of 2005 on Heurung's right-side bank shot with 5:07 on the clock.  The game ended with VC on the top end of the 106-30 margin.

     Indira Kaljo led the Pirate scores with 16 points, while Griggs and Randi Hicks each added 14 points.  Jameson netted an even dozen and Conklin also added 10 points.  Trout and Jameson each grabbed seven rebounds to lead VC and Conklin snatched five boards.  Nicholson had four assists and Eja Wong and Conklin each dished out three dimes.  Griggs and Conklin led the defensive effort with three steals each.  In the game, Ventura had 21 assists as compared to five turnovers and out-rebounded their opponent 50-17.