VC Advances to ToC Final for 10th Straight Year

Davina Del Castillo had a VC career-high 17 points with 11 rebounds and three steals, and Katie Campbell netted 17 points and four steals as the Pirates overcame a slow start to easily handle Long Beach 78-49 in the semifinals of the VC-Kiwanis Tournament of Champions Saturday at the Athletic Event Center.  It is the 10th straight year that Ventura (3-1) has advanced to the final of tournament.

The Pirates had another alarmingly regular slow start, misfiring on five straight shots after an opening lay-up by Del Castillo.the Pirates trailed the Vikings 10-2 with 6:03 left in the first quarter before putting things together.  VC went on an 11-2 run over the next four minutes, capped by Simone Lewis' 3-pointer from a Rhiana Dougan assist to put Ventura ahead 13-12 at the 2:21 mark.  The teams traded buckets in the final minute of the period, and Long Beach held a 17-15 advantage at the end of one period.

The close game continued midway through the second quarter until Campbell nailed a triple to put VC ahead for good, 23-20. Following a LBCC free throw, Campbell hit again from range, and Sienna Brown converted and old-fashioned 3-point play to give Ventura a 29-21 margin.  Lewis converted two charity tosses and Del Castillo hit a lay-up as Ventura took a 33-23 lead into the break.

Treys from Campbell and Dougan opened the second half for the Pirates, maintaining a double-digit lead. Dougan hit her second triple of the period, and Del Castillo converted a Kyleesha Green assist on a lay-up to make it 47-31 for VC with 4:15 remaining in the third.  Green scored six of the Pirates' next 10 points, leading to a 57-37 advantage with one quarter remaining.

Ventura maintained the pressure in the final stanza with 13 of their 21 points coming off the bench.  Christina Gonzalez netted seven points down the stretch leading to the 78-49 final score.

It was a team effort throughout as Sienna Brown narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds.  Green scored nine with six assists and Dougan had eight points and five steals. Lewis was solid again off the bench with nine points, three rebounds and three assists. Ventura won the rebound battle 45-36 and only committed seven turnovers in the game.

Other tournament scores from Saturday included Santa Monica over Laney, 62-51, and Canyons over Taft 82-61.  The Corsairs and Cougars will meet in the consolation final at 12:00 noon.  In the other semifinal, Sierra defeated Mt. SAC 69-60.  The Mounties will play Long beach at 2:00 pm in the 3rd place game.

VC, which has claimed six Tournament of Champions titles in the previous 18 years, heads to the finals for the 10th straight year and the 15th time overall.  They will battle Sierra College, the preseason No. 1-ranked team from Northern California, in the championship game at the Athletic Event Center Sunday Nov. 27.  Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 pm.