The VC women's basketball team has had success this season because they have a variety of players who are able to lead. Saturday's 83-65 victory over visiting Santa Monica in the SoCal Regional Semifinals was a perfect example. Sienna Brown had a career-high 23 points with 11 rebounds and Celeste Salazar also totaled a career-high with 12 points off the bench, including a 3-5 night behind the 3-point stripe. The Pirates advanced to the state "Sweet 16" for the 21st time in the 27-year tenure of head coach Ned Mircetic.
It was definitely a battle between the 14th-seeded Corsairs and the No. 3-seeded Pirates. THere were eight ties and five lead changes in the first 15 minutes of play as Ventura battled foul issues and an uncharacteristic 10 turnovers in the first half. VC took a 6-5 advantage on Melissa Ohmie's lay-up three minutes into the game, and VC stretched the lead to 9-5 on a 3-pointer from Kyleesha Green. The Corsairs tied the game at 10-10 before Brown scored on old-fashioned 3-point play to reestablish VC's lead. After SMC tied the score at 13-13, Rhiana Dougan's driving, twisty lay-up gave VC a 15-13 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
Santa Monica came back in the second period to take leads of 20-18 and 23-20.Salazar's triple off a Katie Campbell assist knotted the score at 23, and Brown gave Ventura the lead for good with a jumper from an Avery Brunk assist with 5:08 left in the half. Brown hit another jumper to stretch the lead to 29-23 before Santa Monica took advantage of Pirate foul trouble to close to within 35-32 at halftime.
SMC hit the first bucket of the third period to close the gap to a single point, 35-34 when Dougan hit a triple to turn back the tide. Green followed two Corsair charity tosses with another trey. Campbell, Davina Del Castillo and Brown all scored in a 6-0 VC run midway through the quarter, and Green assist to Brown, and Green free throw opened up a nine-point VC lead, 54-45, at the 4:25 mark. Salazar hit another 3-pointer in the final minute to make it 57-49 at the quarter break.
The Pirates finally pulled away in the middle of the fourth quarter. Brown started a decisive 12-0 run followed by a Dougan triple, three drive and scores from Green with another Brown jumper mixed in. The Pirates led 77-57 with 2:17 on the clock and could rest easier knowing advancement had been secured. VC rolled in with the 83-65 victory.
Green had another outstanding game with 19 points, seven assists and seven rebounds. Del Castillo contributed eight points, 10 boards, three assists and three steals while Campbell secured six points with seven rebounds and four assists. Brunk came off the bench with four big points and a pair of steals.
Ventura advances to the SoCal Regional Final, hosting Los Angeles Valley on Saturday March 4. The Madness begins at 7:00 pm at the Athletic Event Center and the action can be seen live on the VC Sports Network.