Ventura Downs Long Beach in Tourney Opener

The Ventura College women's basketball team opened the LA Valley Buddy's All-Star Classic with a 72-59 victory over Long Beach Thursday in Valley Glen. Sofia Torres-Reyes scored 21 points to lead VC and Kylie Gallick had her eighth double-double in nine games with 15 points and 20 rebounds. Kenya Edelhart netted 15 in the win and Jasmine Glover scored an efficient nine points while playing outstanding defense for Ventura (7-2).

The win was the second for the Pirates, ranked No. 3 in Southern California in this week's coaches poll, over the No. 4-ranked Vikings in the past 19 days. Ventura also defeated Long Beach 85-57 on Nov. 19.

The game promised to be an intense affair as the Vikings brought back two starters who did not play in the previous meeting between the sides. LBCC took the early lead with a score on the opening possession of the game, but Edelhart and an immediate answer with a deuce for VC. Glover scored an old-fashioned 3-point play midway through the first quarter gave the Pirates a 7-4 advantage and Edelhart's 3-point play gave VC the lead for good a minute later. Gallick and Torres-Reyes connected for consecutive scores to stretch the margin, and Glover nailed a 3-pointer in the final minute of the period to give Ventura a 17-12 edge at the end of the stanza.

Long Beach pulled to within 19-15 with 8:16 left in the first half before Torres-Reyes outscored the Vikings 7-2 over the next four minutes of play. Her 3-pointer at the 3:42 mark made it 26-17 for the Pirates, and Alina Olivo increased the lead to double-figures with a lay-up at the 2:32 mark. LBCC made a mild come-back as the half closed, and Ventura led 30-24 at intermission.

The teams exchanged punches to begin the second half. LBCC scored an easy two to open the third quarter before Edelhart drove and found Jocelyn Contreras wide open in the left corner for three for the VC counterpunch. Edelhart followed with an offensive rebound and score and Alisha Cruz-Lisberg hit a high-arching three from the right corner with 7:30 on the clock, giving Ventura a 38-26 margin. Gallick scored six straight points before Torres-Reyes beat the shot clock for a deep three in the final minute of the period, and Gallick converted a 3-point play for a 50-35 Ventura lead headed to the final quarter.

Contreras started the fourth with another triple, and Edelhart's score with 7:47 remaining gave the Pirates their largest lead of the game, 55-39. While Long Beach continued to bring the fight to Ventura, the Pirates took every punch and dished out some punishment, as well. Glover hit her second 3-point play of the night at the midway point of the stanza for a 60-45 lead.  Ventura maintained its margin down the stretch for the 13-point win.

The game also featured the Pirate debut for third-year freshman Leilani Manuel. She joined the program in the 2020-21 Covid year, working through the modified outdoor workouts without any games, and had a season-ending injury in the summer before last season. She entered the game midway through the second quarter ending a two-and-a-half year wait to play for the orange and black.

Ventura shot 40 percent from the flor in the game (25-62) and hit 80 percent of their free throws (16-20). The Pirates also outrebounded the Vikings 44-38, limiting LBCC to 13 offensive rebounds, 10 below their season average.

VC next plays LA Valley in the tournament semifinals on Friday Dec. 9. Tip-off with the Monarchs is slated for 7:00 pm.