The Ventura College women's basketball team is a work in progress. Sunday afternoon was certainly not a masterpiece, but the effort and result were sufficient for the Pirates to rally from a six point deficit in the third quarter to a 62-53 victory over San Bernardino Valley in the championship game of the Buddy's All Star LAVC Classic. Tournament MVP Makenna Murray had 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists and a blocked shot to lead the way to the win, the Pirates fourth title in five seasons at the LA Valley tournament.
It looked like it might be an easy game in the early going as Aubri Smith hit a pair of 3-pointers to help put the Pirates ahead 14-4 with 4:01 remaining in the first quarter. The VC offense went cold at that point, however, and the Wolverines rallied with a 14-0 run over the next eight minutes to take an 18-14 lead midway through the second period. Aubri Smith ended the drought with a bucket with 6:01 remaining in the half, and when Tatum Maciel hit a 3-pointer three minutes later, the Pirates reclaimed a 22-21 advantage. San Bernardino scored the final points of the half, however, and took a 24-22 lead into intermission.
Maciel opened the third quarter with another trey, giving VC a 25-24 lead, but the Wolverines went on a 7-0 run over the next 1:45 to post their largest margin of the game, 31-25 with 7:53 remaining in the quarter. Maciel assisted a bucket by Alex Kalmbach, Murray hit a free throw, and Aubri Smith nailed a 3-pointer as Ventura tied the score at 31-31. Aubri Smith and Murray splashed threes on consecutive possessions to give the Pirate the lead for good, 39-38 with 3:19 on the clock. A charity toss from Kyleesha Green, a lay-up from Marissa Hurtado, and two free throws from Carolyn Ruffino gave VC a 44-40 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Maciel scored five straight points to open the final period, opening up a 49-40 lead for the Pirates with 9:18 remaining. Murray made three jump shots down the stretch, each giving Ventura a 10-point advantage, and Maciel also hit a key 3-pointer to hold off the Wolverines. Ventura held on for the 62-53 win to take the tournament title.
Aubri Smith was named All-Tournament with a 20-point, seven-rebound, three-assist performance. Maciel also had a career-high 14 points, including four 3-pointers, to go along with six boards and three steals. Green pulled down seven rebounds in the game and Hurtado had six boards off the bench for VC.
The Pirates will return to the court on Friday Dec. 18 at the West Los Angeles College Wild West Shootout against MiraCosta College at 1:00 pm.