VCweplayhard.com

VC Tested by Moorpark, Wins 72-63

Ventura hit six free throws in the final minute to finally put away a scrappy Moorpark Raider team 72-63 at the Athletic Event Center Saturday night. On an night when VC hosted its annual barbeque fundraiser, and honored its favorite teachers the Raiders played an excellent game to keep the outcome in doubt until the final minute of the contest. Chanelle Brennan shot 10-13 from the floor, netting 24 points, and Amanda Padilla scored 20 as VC reduced their magic number to two to clinch their 20th consecutive Western State Conference championship. The Pirates travel to second-place Santa Barbara on Wednesday to reduce the Magic number to zero.

VC started off on the right track, with Padilla draining a 3-pointer off of an assist from Erika Ward. After Moorpark ( 5-4, 12-12) tied the score at 5-5, Brennan connected on back-to-back buckets to give the Pirates a four point cushion. The Raiders came back to take a 12-11 lead before Padilla nailed another trey to put Ventura (9-0, 26-1) back ahead 14-12 with 12:41 left in the opening period. Kris King hit a nice 10-foot turn-around jumper to make the score 25-19, and a fast break initiated by Brennan, who passed to Brenda Van Someren, who hit King for a lay-up made the count 29-19 at the 6:50 mark. Padilla's third long range bomb of the half, this one off of an assist from Van Someren, stretched the lead to 13 points, 34-21. Brennan hit a basket and a free throw to make the halftime score 37-27 in favor of the Pirates.

After the Raiders scored on the opening possession of the second half, Ventura scored six consecutive points, all in transition. King hit Ward for the first lay-up, followed by a steal by Ward, who fed Brennan for the easy deuce. Ward then hit Jordan Clegg on the secondary break on the next possession as VC opened up a 43-29 advantage with 17:32 remaining in the contest. The Raiders came back with six straight points of their own over the next two minutes to narrow the deficit back to eight points. The lead was seven, 52-45 when King fed Brennan for two points with 9:27 on the clock, and Padilla hit another 3-pointer to make the score 57-47 with 7:51 left.

Brennan's basket kept the Pirate lead at 10 points, 61-51, with 6:03 on the clock, but the Raiders were ready for strong comeback. Moorpark outscored Ventura 11-2 over the next 3:27 to make it a 63-62 game. Suzie Faanono hit a free throw, and King connected on another turn-around jumper to stretch the lead back to four, 66-62, and the Raiders were forced to foul in the final minute. Padilla and Ward each hit a pair of free throws, and Van Someren and Faanono each hit one to make the final score 72-63.

Brennan's 24 points led the way for VC on offense, and Padilla netted 20. King contributed 11 points on the night. Faanono had a spectacular night on the boards with 11 while King and Brennan had six and five rebounds, respectively. Ward, Van Someren, and Escamilla each handed out four assists and Brennan had three steals.

Following the game, the Pirates honored their favorite teachers of 2010. They are: Gary Amar (Speech), Michelle Beard (Math), Lucy Capuano-Brewer (Psychology), Lydia Cosentino (English), Tomás Sanchez (History), and Asher Sund (English). Look on www.VCweplayhard.com in the coming week for more detail on these honorees.

The Pirate win sets up a showdown with second-place Santa Barbara on Wednesday Feb. 10 in Santa Barbara. The Pirates are one game ahead of the Vaqueros with three games left to play. A Pirate win on Wednesday would clinch VC's 20th consecutive Western State Conference title. Fans can listen to the game live on www.HomeFieldSports.com.