December
19,
2008;
We
Play
Hard
Crossover
Classic
The
two halves could not have been more
different. The Pirates made 33
percent of its shots (10-30) and turned
the ball over 13 times in falling behind
Cypress College 29-24 at halftime of
Friday night's game. In the second
half, however, VC shot an astronomical 73
percent from the floor (19-26), with 18 of
those baskets assisted, as Ventura used a
54-point period to top the Chargers 78-64
in the first day of the We Play Hard
Crossover Classic at the VC Athletic Event
Center. Chanelle
Brennan led VC with a
career-high 23 points, Michelle
Santizo had seven assists, all in the
second half, and five steals, and Erika
Ward hit four big 3-pointers in the
final 20 minutes to lead Ventura to it's
15th victory in as many games.
The Pirates, ranked #1 in the state, got
off to a quick 6-0 lead from buckets by Julie
Heurung, Jessi
Selleh, and Ward. Cypress (9-5)
dictated the tempo with their full court
pressure, and VC began playing at a speed
at which they were uncomfortable, with the
turnovers and missed shots following soon
thereafter. A 3-pointer by Cypress
at the 10:03 mark of the first half gave
them the lead, 13-12, punctuating at 13-6
run over the previous 6:42. Ventura
(15-0) came back with consecutive baskets
by Brennan, off of an assist from Donielle
Griggs; and by a Santizo to Selleh to
Griggs combo, giving the Pirates a 16-13
advantage at the 8:59 mark. Cypress,
who entered the game as the #14 team in
Southern California, scored the game's
next eight points to take a 21-16 lead
before Amanda
Padilla stopped the bleeding with a
3-pointer with 4:38 remaining in the
period. A pair of Kris
King free throws tied the game at 21,
and Brennan hit a bucket with 2:45 on the
clock to make the score 23-23 before the
Chargers outscored VC 6-1 to close out the
half. Ventura trailed at halftime
29-24.
The two teams traded scores to begin the
second half, as Cypress still lead 37-32
with 16:43 left in the contest.
Ventura went on a 16-5 run over the next
five minutes as Heurung's 18-footer from
the right wing broke a 40-40 tie and gave
the Pirates an advantage they would never
relinquish. Brennan had a spectacular
one-handed steal under the Cypress basket,
and she passed the ball to Santizo who
drove to the hoop and found Griggs in the
left corner for an 18-footer to give VC a
52-44 lead with 9:52 left to play.
Santizo's steal on the next possession led
to a Brennan to Selleh to Brennan
connection that put the Pirates up by 10,
54-44. The Chargers would not go
away quietly, however, as they fought back
to within 55-51 at the 6:47 point, but a
bucket and charity toss by Brennan on
successive trips down the floor, and a
pair of free throws by Selleh built the
lead back to nine, 60-51. Ward
connected on a pair of 3-pointers, her
third and fourth of the half, to make
things more comfortable for the home fans,
66-57 with 4:15 left on the clock, but
Cypress hung tough. It was only when
Griggs hit a trey from a Santizo pass at
the 2:02 mark that the game seemed in hand
for the Pirates with the score 71-61 with
2:02 remaining. Ventura hit seven of
eight free throws down the stretch to seal
the 78-64 win.
Brennan led the offensive charge with a
career high 23 points on 10-15 shooting
from the field. Ward had 14 points,
including a season-high four 3-pointers,
and Griggs contributed 11 points.
Heurung scored eight to go along with
eight rebounds. Griggs pulled down
seven boards for VC, while Santizo had
six. Santizo also dished out seven
assists while Selleh handed out six
dimes. Santizo also had five steals
while Ward had four thefts.
The Pirates will take on Los Angeles Trade
Tech at 7:00 pm on Saturday Dec. 20 at the
Athletic Event Center to close out the We
Play Hard Crossover. Mira Costa
College takes on Cypress in the early game
at 5:00 pm. VC will return to action
after Christmas on Monday Dec. 29 at home
against Los Angeles Valley College in the
Optimist Club Holiday Crossover.
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