Pirates Return to State Finals

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL:  From the Ventura County Star  NORWALK — Lisa Marie Sanchez's flawless start ended with a sickening thud. And for a moment, it looked like the Ventura College women's basketball team's championship run had been halted, along with its on-court maestro.

"It hurt my heart," said Cynthia Hernandez.

Not as much as Sanchez's back, which wrenched into spasms after a hard foul on a 3-point play less than eight minutes into Friday night's CCCAA state semifinal at Cerritos College. Despite doubling over in pain between whistles and gingerly tiptoeing between plays, the sophomore point guard returned to guide the Pirates into its state-record ninth state championship game.

"I wasn't going to sit out," Sanchez said.

Sanchez had 26 points and eight assists, Adrianne Sloboh had 10 points and 23 rebounds and shooters Hernandez and Adrianna Vega shook off early cold spells to combine for 10 3-pointers as the Pirates flew past Fresno City, 87-73.

"Shooting felt a lot worse than passing," Sanchez said. "I told myself I had to stay smart to be able make it through the game."

Ventura (31-3) will face two-time defending state champion Mount San Antonio College (29-4) in Sunday afternoon's state championship. The Mounties held off San Joaquin Delta, 51-47, in its semifinal behind 15 points and 11 rebounds from sophomore forward Sabrina Norton. The dueling dynasties are tied for most state titles with six. Mount SAC beat VC, 63-54, Dec. 7 in Visalia. VC beat Mount SAC in the 2002 state final to complete the first three-peat in state history.

"We've been waiting for this," Sanchez said. "There's really nothing else to say about it. The two best teams going at it, two legendary programs. It doesn't get any better."

Friday's semifinal was billed as a showdown of the state's Co-Players of the Year, Sanchez and Fresno guard Keyora Wharry. It lived up to the hype as Wharry piled in 32 points and 16 rebounds, digging Fresno out of an early seven-point hole to take a 39-38 halftime lead.

"She's definitely the most athletic player (in the state)," said Sloboh, who was tasked with the unenviable job of slowing the 5-foot-11 powerhouse. "I was sprinting full speed and could not catch her."

Sanchez staked to an early 13-8 lead on a pair of 3-pointers, then was upended on a drive with 12:17 left in the half.

"I went up in the air and she came this way," Sanchez said, crashing her hands together. "I just fell straight on my back.

"Right after it happened, it started spasming. As soon as I tried to stand up, my back got super, super stiff."

Ventura trainer Tyler Hickok worked on Sanchez for four minutes.

"The game is still going," Ventura coach Ned Mircetic said. "We still have to play. I thought we hung pretty tough."

Hernandez, who had missed her first six shots, took the reins and splashed her next two jumpers, including a 3, to push VC ahead 23-16.

"I thought, 'We're either going to go down and watch Lisa be hurt or someone is going to have to take over and help this team,' " Hernandez said.

But Fresno recovered behind Wharry, who opened the second half with a pair of buckets to build Fresno's biggest lead at 43-38.

Having missed eight of her first nine 3s, Vega's confidence was waning.

"It's just frustrating because they kept going in and out, in and out," Vega said. "It was like fate didn't want them to go in."

"I had to tell her to breathe and relax," Hernandez said.

Having passed up an open look, the sophomore from Pacifica High left the game with 15 minutes to play to receive a stern lecture and a few words of encouragement.

"She misses more in-and-out shots than anybody I've ever seen in my life," Mircetic said. "Her misses are on target, which is what makes her a great shooter.

"I got a little bit upset with her when she passed up on some shots. But she took them in the second half."

Vega splashed 5 of 7 3s down the stretch as the Pirates turned a 49-49 tie into a 79-63 lead with 3:30 to play.

"It was pretty awesome," Vega said.

Vega finished with 20 points on 6-of-16 shooting from 3-point range. Hernandez had 18 points on 4-of-13 3-point shooting.

"It's nice having that support," Vega said. "Not just the coaching staff, but my teammates telling me to shoot."

Vega said the hundreds of orange-clad fans chanting "VC!" also helped.

"It was a great atmosphere," Mircetic said. "I've always said that there's not even a close second in terms of fan support. If this were a university with like a 10,000-seat area, Ventura would be insane."

Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2014/mar/14/theyre-back/#ixzz2w1NsdSb6 - vcstar.com