Girls basketball: Ventura loses, but shows it belongs

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There was rain around the Southland on Saturday night, and Ventura Coach Ann Larson was pleased with the reading on the barometer. Her Cougars are No. 15 in The Times’ rankings, but lacked any victory over a current top-25 opponent.

They are still looking for a first victory after a loss to No. 14 Cajon, 41-39, at the Ventura Buena Showcase. Cajon’s 41 points were by five its fewest of the season.

For Larson, it was indicative that Ventura deserves to be counted among the Southland’s best.

‘I’m very pleased,’ she said. ‘We lost by two points, and we couldn’t throw a pea in the ocean.’

Down 16 points late in the third quarter, Ventura (20-2) made a three-point basket to end the quarter, and Victoria Brubaker made a three to open the fourth to cut the deficit to 10 points. However, Ventura missed its next nine shots. Still, the Cougars managed to get to within two before it was over despite shooting 26.4% from the field. Cajon (19-3) has played a number of top-25 teams.

‘I want to battle,’ Larson said. ‘To play a good team and lose by two is way better than rolling over someone by 30. ... We got better tonight.’

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image from www.barometers.us