One thing was clearly evident from Wednesday's overtime thriller in the championship game of the VC-Optimist Club Holiday Tournament, the Pirates' women's basketball team can play with anyone in the state. VC (14-4) pushed No. 1-ranked and undefeated Mt. San Jacinto College to the edge, and had a shot to win in regulation and a shot to tie in overtime in the 82-79 heartbreaking loss. Makenna Murray and Brooke Zamora each scored 18 points while Aubri Smith barely missed a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in the game.
The Pirates took control of the game midway through the first quarter. they turned a 10-9 deficit at the 5:00 mark into a 22-11 advantage four minutes later. Murray started the run with a pair of free throws and Alex Kalmbach followed with a 3-pointer off an assist by Sienna Brown. Marissa Hurtado connected on a pair of charity tosses and Aubri Smith assisted a Carolyn Ruffino triple. Zamora punctuated the run with a three with 1:19 on the clock. VC led 22-13 at the end of the period.
The lead fluctuated between seven and 11 points early in the second quarter before Zamora's trey put VC ahead 33-21 with 5:50 on the clock. Ruffino hit a bucket to give Ventura a 14 point advantage, and Aubri Smith's field goal at the 1:27 mark made the score 45-31. The Pirates had the chance to put the hammer down before halftime, but an inopportune missed shot gave the Eagles an opening and they were able to narrow VC's halftime lead to 10, 46-36.
Ventura seemed to recover, however, using a 7-0 run midway through the third period to take a 57-40 lead. Aubri Smith hit a pair of drives in the run and Zamora connected for another 3-pointer with 5:46 left in the quarter.
The Pirate offense, which had a stretch of 19 straight missed shots two nights earlier, went cold at that point and Mt. San Jacinto went on a 20-2 run over the next 10 minutes of play. Ventura made just one shot in their next 16 tries, a lay-up by Aubri Smith, before Amani White connected on a lay-up at the 4:06 mark of the fourth quarter to make the score 61-60 for the Pirates.
The teams traded baskets down the stretch, with Zamora tying the game at 67-67 with a field goal with 1:26 left in regulation. VC had a good look at a 3-point shot at the buzzer, but it fell short sending the game to overtime.
Mt. San Jacinto took the upper hand in the extra period, taking a 73-69 lead with two minutes remaining. White scored on an offensive rebound to halve the deficit, but MSJC hit a crucial 3-pointer two possessions later to make the score 76-71 with 36 seconds left. Zamora hit a 3-pointer to bring Ventura to within two points, but the eagles connected on free throws to take an 80-74 lead with 12 seconds remaining. Murray connected with another triple five seconds later, and the Eagles missed a free throw on the ensuing play, giving Ventura one last chance to tie, by the final 3-point attempt sailed wide setting the final margin at 82-79.
Zamora added seven rebounds to her scoring numbers, and Murray handed out three assists. White finished with seven points and nine boards and Ruffino scored nine points. Murray and Aubri Smith were both named to the all-tournament team.
The Pirates end their non-conference schedule at 14-4, with all four losses coming after the Pirates held a lead late in the game. They will begin Western State Conference play next year, Wednesday Jan. 6 at the Athletic Event Center. The women are scheduled to tip off at 5:00 pm followed by the men at 7:00 pm at the Athletic Event Center.