Ventura
65,
Mt.
San
Antonio
42
Finals,
VC-Kiwanis
Tournament
of
Champions
Ventura
sophomore Jessi
Selleh mused before the game that she
had never played against Mt. San Antonio
College. The Pirates did not play
the Mounties in 2006-07, her freshman
season, and she was injured before VC
dropped three decisions a year ago. So it
was fitting the Selleh's driving lay-up
down the right side of the paint 25
seconds into the game gave the Pirates a
lead they would never relinquish, as
Ventura defeated Mt. SAC 65-42 in the
finals of the VC-Kiwanis
Tournament of Champions Sunday
afternoon at the Athletic Event
Center. The win was the Pirates'
first championship in their own tournament
since the 2001-02 season, and it ended a
six game skid against the Mounties dating
back six years.
After Selleh's opening basket, Michelle
Santizo scored the next seven points
for Ventura (8-0) to give them a 9-2
advantage five minutes into the ball
game. Donielle
Griggs nailed a 15-foot shot off of an
Erika
Ward assist at the 9:58 mark to put
the Pirates ahead 16-5. With VC up
22-12, the Mt. SAC (8-1) nailed a
3-pointer to pull within seven, but that
was answered on the next possession as
Ward was fouled while making a drive down
the right side, and she converted the
charity toss to complete the old-fashioned
3-point play restoring the double-digit
lead with 2:47 remaining in the first
half. Santizo's two free throws with
14 seconds left made the halftime score
31-19 in favor of the Pirates.
Any hopes of a SAC comeback were dashed in
the opening minutes of the second
half. Julie
Heurung connected for a pair of
buckets inside, and Ward hit a tear-drop
runner on the left side as VC scored the
period's first six points. Ward
splashed an NBA-range trifecta at the
15:35 mark to make the score 42-23, and
the Pirates were able to maintain the lead
from that point, despite a never-say-die
Mt. SAC squad. Heurung was a steady
presence inside, scoring six of eight
Pirate points over one stretch late in the
game, including a lay-up from a Selleh
assist on a textbook pick and roll
play. In the closing seconds, the
partisan crown was treated to one last
play as Irma
Rivera dribbled behind her back twice
against tenacious pressure before feeding Amanda
Padilla, who in turn hit Christine
McPherson wide open for a lay up
sealing the final margin at 65-42.
Santizo led the Pirate attack with 15
points and seven rebounds while Heurung
had 14 points with seven boards, along
with two blocked shots. Ward
finished with 13 points and two assists
while Selleh had eight points, two
assists, and took two charges.
Griggs also finished with eight
points. Ward was named the
tournament's Most Valuable Player for her
performance over the three days, and
Huerung was given All-Tournament
honors. However, any number of
Pirates could have been chosen for these
awards, as it was a total team effort for
all three nights of the tournament.
Ventura is now 8-0 for the first time
since their perfect 38-0 season of
1999-2000. They will travel to the Tom
Gilcrest Invitational at the College
of the Sequoias in Visalia next
weekend. VC takes on the host team
on Thursday at 8:00 pm, and will face
either Cerritos or Porterville on Friday.
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