The VC women's basketball team fell into old habits Sunday afternoon, producing a dismal first half of play in the championship game of the LA Valley Buddy's All-Star Classic against the host Monarchs. The Pirates fell behind 32-15 at halftime and could not complete a furious second half comeback, falling 55-52. All-tournament selection Rhiana Dougan led the Pirates (7-5) with 15 points, playing nearly the entire 40 minute game. Sienna Brown had 15 rebounds.
The start was promising for the Pirates as they went ahead 5-2 on Kyleesha Green's 3-pointer at the 8:37 mark of the opening period. That would be the last field goal for Ventura for the next 9:42, however, as LA Valley went on a 14-1 run. During the run, VC missed 10 straight field goal attempts, had seven turnovers, and were limited to one offensive rebound, after which they turned the ball over. But despite the prolonged futility, when Avery Brunk broke the skid with a 3-pointer with 8:55 left in the half, VC only trailed 16-9.
The teams traded scores over the next four minutes. Katie Campbell hit a triple with 4:49 on the clock and the Pirates trailed 23-15. Unfortunately, it was Ventura's last score of the half, and LAVC closed on a 9-0 run, taking a 32-15 lead into halftime.
The Pirates seemed to be a different team following intermission, Brown got things started early in the third quarter with a 15-foot jumper, and Campbell hit from range with an assist by Green. Midway through the period, Green made a trey followed by back-to-back threes from Dougan and VC pulled to within five, 36-31, at the 5:09 mark. Tow minutes later, Davina Del Castillo and Green hit lay-ups on consecutive possessions to make it 38-35, but LA Valley seemed to get big shots when they needed them to answer. The Pirates trailed at the quarter break 47-39.
VC trailed 54-44 with 3:46 remaining when Dougan sandwiched a pair of threes around a Campbell lay-up. The Pirates trailed by a single bucket at the 1:38 mark, and even got a defensive stop, but they were unable to convert in transition to tie the game. LA Valley got a big offensive rebound on the next possession, and the Pirates were forced to foul. VC got two more looks to tie the game in the final seconds, but neither went in as the Pirates fell 55-52.
Green finished the game with 15 points, nine assists and six rebounds while Campbell scored 13 points with four boards and three dimes. Del Castillo had eight rebounds in the game.
Ventura will regroup before heading to the Wild West Shootout at West Los Angeles College in Culver City Dec. 15-17. VC opens on Thursday Dec. 15 with Citrus College at 3:00 pm.