The VC women's basketball team marched out to a lead throughout most of Friday's game against Irvine Valley, but could not close out the Lasers, falling 58-52 on the second day of the VC-Optimist Club Holiday Classic. Alexa Coubal posted her eight double double of the season with 19 points and 13 rebounds while Dani Henley, Leslie Salazar and Mykah Johnson all scored eight points for the Pirates (9-6) in their final game of 2023.
The Pirates, playing without four starters in the game, raced out to a big lead in the opening quarter of play against state No. 12-ranked IVC. Five different players scored early beginning with Coubal's offensive rebound and putback on Ventura's initial possession. johnson followed with a lay-up and Olivia Huynh scored a driving two to break a 4-4 tie. Amari Hurt netted a deuce on an inside turnaround and Alexis Howery nailed a three to make it 11-7 for VC with 4:16 left in the first stanza.
After an Irvine shot from range that brought the Lasers to within 11-10, Coubal scored again to begin a 13-0 Pirate run. Johnson connected on a pair of free throws, as did Coubal, before Salazar and Huynh each netted buckets to close the period with VC ahead 21-10.
Coubal scored the first points of the second quarter and hit a free throw a minute later to close the VC run with the Pirates ahead 24-10 with 6:49 on the clock. Both offenses cooled considerably at that point and VC took a 31-20 lead into halftime.
Ventura's defense continued to hold down the Lasers, as IVC went nearly five minutes into the third quarter before scoring. During that time, VC was only able to connect on a pair of field goals, by Henley and Coubal, respectively, to post a 35-20 margin. Henley then answered an Irvine free shot with a three off Howery's dime to give the Pirates its biggest lead of the game, 38-21, with 4:35 left in the period. Henley hit another three at the 1:26 mark, but Irvine had scored eight straight points by that point and VC led 41-33 entering the final 10 minutes of play.
The Lasers, who had struggled shooting the ball all game, caught fire in the final stanza, connecting on five 3-pointers in the period. IVC hit a three to tie the score at 42-42 with 5:21 remaining before Johnson put VC back on top with a deuce on the next possession. Coubal connected for on a pair of free throws at the 4:22 mark before the Lasers pulled to within 46-45 with an old-fashioned 3-point play on the next trip down the floor.
Coubal scored two more free shots before another Irvine three put the Lasers up 48-47 with 3:20 left in the game. Johnson scored again on the next VC possession before IVC took the lead for good with another long-range shot with 2:41 remaining. Unfortunately, the Pirates could not muster more offense late and IVC's triple at the 1:24 mark put VC down 54-49. Salazar was able to answer with her own bomb, but the Lasers hit four free throws in the final minute to seal the Pirates' fate.
Salazar added nine rebounds to her point total and Johnson grabbed six boards. Howery handed out three assists and grabbed three steals in the contest.
The Optimist Club Classic closes on Saturday Dec. 30 when Irvine Valley takes on Glendale at 3:00 pm at the Athletic Event Center.
The Pirates will return to action on Wednesday Jan. 10, opening Western State Conference play at 7:00 pm hosting Oxnard at the AEC.