Cruz-Lisberg Lifts Pirates Over Cerritos

Alisha Cruz-Lisberg had a career night, scoring 23 points on 9-14 shooting from the floor and a 5-7 night at the free throw line as Ventura defeated Cerritos 63-51 Wednesday in the first round of the CCCAA SoCal Regional Playoffs at the Athletic Event Center. Kenya Edelhart had 18 points, five rebounds and five assists while Kylie Gallick recorded her 21st double-double of the year with 10 points and 14 boards as No. 12-seeded VC (20-8) moves on to face No. 5 Cypress in the second round on Saturday.

The game went back and forth early until Cruz-Lisberg converted an old-fashioned 3-point play for a 9-8 VC edge followed by a 3-pointer from Edelhart. with 3:37 remaining in the first quarter. Edelhart then answered a Cerritos two with another three off an inside-out pass from Tiernan Phillips for the 15-10 margin. Cruz-Lisberg hit one of two free throws and Ventura led 16-12 after one quarter of play.

Talitha Draper and Cruz-Lisberg scored to open the second quarter for the Pirates, but Cerritos stayed close, tying the score at 22 with a 3-pointer at the 5:04 mark of the period. Jasmine Glover recorded a steal on the next Falcon possession that led to a Cruz-Lisberg lay-up, and Edelhart scored a bunny in transition on the next trip to move VC ahead for good. Gallick scored on a 3-point play and Edelhart turned a steal into a successful pull-up "J" to complete a 9-0 run. The Falcons did manage to close to within 33-27 at halftime, but the feeling was that the Pirates were in control at the break.

Behind Cruz-Lisberg and Edelhart, VC opened the third quarter on a 12-2 run. Cruz-Lisberg started things off with two free shots, and Edelhart followed with a drive for two. Cruz-Lisberg answered a Cerritos score with an offensive rebound and putback, then she scored on a jumper with an assist by Edelhart. Glover then pulled in another steal, passing to Cruz-Lisberg who hit Edelhart for the easy bucket, and Cruz Lisberg netted another deuce to complete the run for a 45-29 Pirate advantage midway through the stanza. The Falcons countered, however, coming back with a 10-2 run of their own to pull to within 47-39 three minutes later. Gallick cashed in a dime from Sofia Torres-Reyes for a lay-up, then Edelhart found Torres-Reyes open for three and Ventura led 52-39 headed to the final period.

Cruz-Lisberg scored another lay-up with 7:26 to maintain a 14-point edge for the Pirates, and Alina Olivo converted a fast break for a 57-43 lead at the 5:50 mark.  Cerritos made one final 8-0 run to pull to within 57-51 with 3:38 on the clock, but Glover's 3-pointer from the left corner turned back the Falcons a minute later. VC scored the final six points of the contest for the 63-51 victory.

Cruz-Lisberg also had five boards, three steals and a pair of assists while Torres-Reyes added five points and five assists to the Pirate cause. Glover checked in with a pair of thefts. VC shot 55 percent from the flor (26-47) and narrowly won the rebound battle, 29-28. 15 of the Pirates' 26 field goals were assisted.

With the victory, Ventura reached the 20-win plateau for the 32nd time in the past 33 seasons.

VC advances in the playoffs to travel to No. 5 Cypress on Saturday Feb. 25. Tip-off against the Chargers is slated for 7:00 pm.