Pirates Rally For One-Point Win, Optimist Tourney Title

The VC women's basketball team rallied from five points down with 2:39 remaining in the game to take a 43-42 win over San Bernardino Valley in the championship game of the VC-Optimist Club Holiday Tournament Tuesday at the Athletic Event Center.  Brooke Zamora's offensive rebound and putback as the shot clock expired with 30.2 seconds on the game clock was the difference maker for the Pirates (13-5).

After falling behind 6-2 early, and trailing 10-8 at the 13:40 mark of the first half, VC used a, 11-0 run to appear to right the ship. Aubri Smith hit a jumper to tie the game at 10-10, and converted Carolyn Ruffino's assist to give Ventura the lead. Makenna Murray hit a deuce from a pass by Madison O'Donnell and Aubri Smith hit another jumper. Micaela Pericone-Kapp completed the run with a 3-pointer from Aubri Smith's assist, making it 19-10 with 10:22 left in the half.

Aubri Smith answered a Wolverine bucket with another field goal, making the score 21-12 with 9:38 on the clock. The Pirate offense went cold at that point, allowing San Bernardino Valley to creep back into the contest.  SBVC scored the next six points over three-plus minutes before Pericone-Kapp temporarily ended the slide with two free throws, and two minutes later, Murray hit another shot to put VC up 25-20 with 2:25 on the clock. The Pirates went into halftime ahead 27-24.

The Wolverines tied the score at 27-27 early in the second half before Aubri Smith got VC on the board 4:25 into the period.  Sandra Ortiz hit a free throw at the 13:39 mark to make it 30-27 for VC before an 11-3 run for SBVC gave them a 380-33 advantage with 4:59 remaining in the game. Two minutes later Ruffino nailed a 3-pointer from the left side in transition to breathe life into the Pirates.Her two charity tosses at the 2:01 mark tied the score at 38-38, and her second triple put VC ahead 41-40 at the 129 mark.

San Bernardino Valley hit a bucket on their next possession, putting them ahead 42-41 with 1:04 on the clock, setting the stage for Zamora's heroics. With the shot clock winding down, she hauled in an offensive rebound on a partially-blocked 3-point attempt, and put it into the hoop as the buzzer went off, giving the Pirates their decisive basket. SBVC had a couple of chances to re-take the lead, but those opportunities were snatched up by defensive rebounds by O'Donnell. The Pirates prevailed 43-42 in an exciting, if not pretty, championship game.

Aubri Smith, who earned tournament MVP honors, led VC with 13 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Ruffino finished with eight points, all in the final 2:39 of the game, and was named all-tournament. Murray and Pericone-Kapp each had eight points, as well, while Zamora pulled in six boards.  

VC has now completed its non-conference schedule, and will open Western State Conference North Division play next Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 7:00 pm at the Athletic Event Center. That game will be preceded by the Pirate men against the Cougars at 5:00 pm.