The Pirates used a decisive 16-2 run in their record-setting third quarter to propel them to an 86-71 victory over Los Angeles Trade Tech Friday in the opening round of the LAVC Buddy's All-Star Classic at LA Valley College. Katie Campbell had a career high 27 points, 13 in the third quarter, to lead VC (6-4) over the Beavers. Davina Del Castillo had a double-double of 13 points and 16 rebounds while Sienna Brown had a double-double of 14 points and 11 boards in the victory.
Ventura took an early 8-3 advantage on a pair of buckets by Rhiana Dougan and scores from Del Castillo and Brown. Campbell assisted a Brown jumper with 4:58 remaining in the period to put the Pirates ahead 10-5 before a barrage of Trade Tech threes brought them back into the game. With the score tied at 14, LATT made three straight triples to close the quarter and take a 23-14 lead at the quarter break.
The teams battled in the second quarter with Campbell heating up on the offensive end for VC. At one point she scored nine straight for Ventura, keeping them in touch with Trade Tech, who continued their hot touch from the outside. Dougan assisted a trey from Celeste Salazar, and Del Castillo scored on a drive to the bucket in the final minute as Ventura trailed 43-36 at intermission.
In the third quarter, the Pirates express took off. After a turnover on their first possession, VC scored on 16 of the next 19 possessions in the period. The Beavers scored a bucket on their first possession to stretch the lead back to nine, 45-36, at the 9:22 mark. Del Castillo converted a lay-up, then an old-fashioned 3-point play from an offensive rebound to pull VC to within 45-41. Campbell then nailed a triple with an assist by Kyleesha Green to make it a one point game. LATT sandwiched a VC turnover with two scores, and the Beavers answered Brown's jumper to make it 51-46 at the 6:43 mark.
Campbell and Dougan began Ventura's decisive run by connecting on back-to-back possessions, both from range, to give the Pirates a 52-51 advantage with 5:41 left in the period. Campbell then scored on a drive, and hit a trey to make it 57-51. Dougan answered two from LATT with a jumper assisted by Avery Brunk, and Campbell converted Del Castillo's helper into another deuce. Green hit a free throw with 3:14 on the clock to complete the 16-2 run and give the Pirates a 61-53 edge. After Trade Tech closed to within 64-57 at the 1:58 mark, the Pirates ended the period on an 8-0 run to take full control of the game. VC led at the quarter break 72-57.
In the final stanza, the Pirates continued to push the ball, extending their lead to 83-60 on Dougan's 3-pointer with 6:03 remaining. The Pirates let off the accelerator a bit from that point forward, claiming the 86-71 win.
Women's basketball is in its second season of playing games in four quarters. The 26 points for VC in the third period is a new school record for points in a quarter, surpassing the 32-point record set twice a year ago.
Campbell added eight rebounds to her high-point night along with three assists. Del Castillo had three dimes and five steals in addition to her double-double, and Dougan finished with 16 points and three helpers. Green handed out seven assists to lead Ventura.
The Pirates shot nearly 47 percent from the floor on the night, 34-73. VC also dominated the glass with a 53-23 rebound advantage and scored 18 second-chance points compared with two for Trade Tech.
Ventura advances to the tournament semifinals on Saturday Dec. 10 at 5:00 pm. VC will face Cypress, a 73-51 winner over San Bernardino Valley.