Pirates Roll Past Moorpark 84-46 to Claim Wild West Title

As they did all weekend, the VC women's basketball team used a big run early in the game to separate out and ride to a lopsided victory in Saturday's 84-46 decision against Moorpark in the championship game of the Wild West Shootout at West Los Angeles College in Culver City. Tournament MVP Katie Campbell had 23 points, 12 rebounds and five assists to lead the way while all-tournament selection Kyleesha Green netted 14 points with three boards and three steals.  The Pirates (10-5) went on a 24-5 run beginning late in the opening period to take control of the game.

The Pirates jumped out to an early 6-0 advantage before the Raiders came back to tie the game at 8-8. With the score tied at 10, Moorpark connected for a field goal to take the lead at the 2:49 mark of the opening period. The small deficit seemed to awaken the Pirates as they began their decisive run.  Avery Brunk connected for three from the left corner on an assist from Campbell, who made a follow shot on the next possession. Davina Del Castillo made a free throw, then a lay-up before Moorpark countered with a triple from the top of the key.  Del Castillo then ended the quarter with her own trifecta and VC led 21-15 at the quarter break.

The Ventura run continued in the second quarter with another score from Del Castillo.  Green then scored the next six points and the Pirates held a 29-15 advantage with 6:46 on the clock. After a pair of Raider free throws, Campbell connected from range and Green scored again to make it 34-17 at the 4:08 mark.  VC made another run late in the half with the bench getting into the act. Celeste Salazar made a lay-up with 2:22 remaining, and Christina Gonzalez also scored before Salazar connected from the right corner at the buzzer, giving Ventura a 43-21 edge at intermission.

The teams played close in the third quarter, with Ventura extending the lead to 62-37 by the end of the period.  but in the fourth, the Pirates distanced themselves from the Raiders scoring the first 11 points of the stanza. Green made a jumper followed by a Del Castillo drive and lay-up. Sienna brown connected off an assist from Del Castillo and Campbell turned a steal into a lay-up with a foul for an old-fashioned 3-point play. Green finished the run with a fast-break lay-up on a pass from Campbell and VC held a commanding 73-37 advantage with 6:16 remaining. Mary Shirley gave Ventura its largest lead of the game, 81-42, with an inside score with 3:05 on the clock, and the Pirates rode the momentum to the 84-46 tournament championship victory.

Del Castillo scored 14 points with eight rebounds in the game while Rhiana Dougan recorded eight points. Salazar came off the bench with seven points and Brunk grabbed five boards.

Ventura returns to the hardwoods after Christmas at home in the VC-Optimist Club Holiday Tournament Dec. 28-30.  the Pirates open on Wednesday Dec. 28 against Rio Hondo at 7:00 pm at the Athletic Event Center.