WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Late night basketball is a tradition at the Tom Gilcrest Invitational at College of the Sequoias in Visalia. The Pirates' women's basketball revisited that tradition Friday night, tipping off against Riverside at 8:50 pm, finishing well after 10:00. VC also took to tradition by advancing to the semifinals of the state's premier non-conference event for the 15th time in the past 19 seasons with an 86-45 victory over Riverside. Cynthia Hernandez netted a team-high 23 points while Adrianna Vega hit five 3-pointers for 15 points for VC (7-1). Adrianne Sloboh had 14 points with nine rebounds and Micaela Pericone-Kapp came off the bench to dump in 10 points.
The Tigers looked to gain the upper hand in the early going, connecting on their first two possessions for a quick 4-0 advantage. Hernandez had a different idea, however, and hit a jumper off of a ball screen then converted a 3-point shot from an assist by Vega beginning a 15-0 Pirate run over the next four minutes to take control. RCC managed a field goal and a free throw to get back to within 15-7 with 13:11 remaining in the first half before Ventura put the game away scoring the next 11 points, and 15 of the next 18. Vega hit a trey at the 11:35 mark, followed by a pull-up by Pericone-Kapp and a pair of buckets by Lisa Marie Sanchez. Brooke Dixon finished the 11-0 run at the 8:33 mark to make the score 26-7 with 8:33 remaining. Vega hit another triple with 1:16 on the clock to set the halftime margin at 39-16 at the half.
The Pirates kept a slow and steady climb going in the second period, beginning with a pair of buckets inside by Dixon. Sanchez and Vega hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give VC a 49-22 lead at the 17:11 mark. Ventura improved on a 14-28 shooting first half by hitting 17 of 30 attempts in the second, to build the 86-45 victory.
Dixon led a 40-29 Pirate advantage on the glass with 11 rebounds while netting eight points. sanchez also had eight points to go along with five assists.
VC plays the early semifinal against Mt. San Antonio College at 6:00 pm Saturday Dec. 6 while San Joaquin Delta and the hosts College of the Sequoias will battle in the second semifinal at 8:00 pm.