Ventura Pulls Out Last-Second Victory in Crossover Finale

Cece Quintino hit a mid-range jumper with 1.1 seconds remaining to lift the Pirates' women's basketball team to a hard-fought 70-69 victory over Palomar College Saturday night in the third place game of the SoCal Crossover Tournament at the Athletic Event Center. LaDaesha Merriweather had a double-double animal style with 12 points and 21 huge rebounds in the victory as VC closed out their non-conference schedule with a 15-7 record. Victoria Maciel had an efficient 14-point performance and Talia Taufaasau netted 12 points with six rebounds and four assists.

The Pirates faced unrelenting pressure from the Comets from the opening tip. VC opened up an 8-2 lead early with a pair of free throws by Taufaasau, two buckets by Merriweather and a jumper from Maciel. Palomar, who leads the state in 3-point shot makes and attempts used three triples to help an 11-0 run midway through the first quarter to take a 13-8 lead with 4:54 on the clock. The Pirates came back with their own 7-0 run  on a 3-point play from Maciel and a bucket and two charity shots by Quintino. Taufaasau and Merriweather each hit two free throws in the final minute of the stanza as the teams were tied at the quarter break, 19-19.

The teams remained with three points of each other throughout the second period with a pair of ties and two lead changes mixed in. That was before Robin Prince nailed a 3-pointer from deep in the left corner off a Taufaasau pass in the final minute to give VC a 35-31 edge. Palomar closed with a lay-up, and the Pirates led at halftime 35-33.

VC took a little control in the third quarter. Taufaasau turned a Quintino dime into three points to open the period, and followed with a jumper to stretch the lead to seven, 40-33. Maciel hit from range to make it 45-37 with 6:22 left in the stanza, and Quintino hit a two and a three to stretch the lead to 52-40 with 4:04 on the clock.  Madison Cvijanovich nailed two free shots to keep the lead at 13, 54-41,at the 2:43 mark before the Comets began a comeback. Palomar closed the quarter with an 8-2 run and Ventura led 56-49 heading to the final 10 minutes. 

The Comets continued their comeback in the final stanza, but the Pirates held fast, staying just ahead. Palomar closed the gap to 60-57 with 6:40 left to play before Quintino answered with a jumper to give Ventura some space. Then Palomar closed to within 62-60 with a 3-point play with 5:51 remaining. Taufaasau answered by making one of two free throws, then Maciel assisted a three-ball by Quintino on the left wing to stretch the lead back to 66-60 with 5:13 on the clock. The Pirates then went cold, going scoreless for the nearly five minutes as the Comets tied the game with 1:24 remaining. Palomar took a 69-66 lead on a 3-point play at the 36 second mark setting up Quintino's last-second heroics.

Quintino hit a lay-up on a drive down the middle with 26 second left to bring VC to within 69-68. After the Comets missed a pair of free throws, the Pirates regained possession of the ball for one final shot. VC worked the ball around, with Maciel finally hitting Quintino on the edge of he paint for a soft jumper. The shot bounced twice on the rim before falling through, giving Ventura a 70-69 lead with 1.1 seconds remaining.  The Comets had a pair of chances to inbounds the ball for a final shot, but Merriweather tipped the ball out of bounds twice. Palomar's final shot off a tipped inbounds pass rolled off the rim and Ventura left with the victory.

The Pirates begin Western State Conference North Division play at home on Saturday Jan. 19, hosting Santa Barbara City College. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 pm following the VC men's game against the Vaqueros at the Athletic Event Center.