It has become a recurring theme this season for the Pirates that a player off the bench comes up big in a VC win. Tuesday it was Kyleesha Green with 16 points and four assists and Alex Kalmbach with nine points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots leading the charge in Ventura's 59-47 victory over Antelope Valley in the semifinals of the VC-Optimist Club Holiday Tournament. The Pirates advance to Wednesday's tournament final against undefeated Mt. San Jacinto at 6:00 pm at the Atheltic Event Center.
The Pirates (14-3) led wire-to-wire, beginning with Brooke Zamora's 3-pointer from an Aubri Smith assist two minutes into the game. Aubri Smith hit her own triple two minutes later and VC led 6-2. Makenna Murray connected for two and Kalmbach scored seven straight points as Ventura led 16-6 at the end of one quarter of play.
Green got into the act early in the second period with a pair of field goals, and Marissa Hurtado cashed in a Kalmbach assist as well. VC led 25-10 with 6:39 remaining in the first half when the Marauders mounted a comeback. AVC went on an 11-2 run to close to within 27-21 before Amani White connected inside to break the skid. Antelope scored the final bucket of the half as the Pirates led 29-23 at the break.
The teams played even throughout most of the third quarter. Carolyn Rufino hit a pair of treys to help the Pirates maintain the lead, and Murray hit a 3-pointer off of an Aubri Smith assist to make the score 42-33 with 2:36 remaining. White's bucket in the closing minute gave Ventura a44-33 edge at the end of the third period.
Green took over in the final quarter, scoring 11 of her 16 points. She had a pair of 3-pointers and connected on three of four free throws to finalize the margin at 59-47 for VC.
White led the VC glass attack with 11 rbeounds, but the Pirates were outrebounded in the game by the Marauders 41-33. Aubri Smith handed out five assists as VC had 16 dimes as a team against five turnovers. Murray contributed nine points, three assists and four steals and Ruffino hit for seven points.
Ventura advances to the Optimist final for the seventh time in the history of the tournament and face undefeated Mt. San Jacinto College. VC has won the title in five of their previous six championship game appearances. It will be VC's first meeting against Mt. San Jacinto since December of 1991. Tip-off against the Eagles, who are ranked No. 1 in the latest SoCal coaches poll, is scheduled for 6:00 pm at the Athletic Event Center.