Simi Valley Banks on Nothvogel

While their teammates were busy forcing shots, Simi Valley High’s Sandy Nothvogel and Dos Pueblos’ Kim Bluitt were forced to take matters into their own hands.

For almost three quarters Wednesday night the two seniors traded baskets--Bluitt from long range, Nothvogel from in the paint--in a semifinal round game in the Simi Valley tournament.

Bluitt blew it, however, when she picked up her fourth foul midway through the third quarter and was forced to spend the rest of the quarter on the bench. Nothvogel went on to score a game-high 25 points and lead Simi Valley to a hard-fought 57-53 win. The Pioneers (6-5) will face Buena in the championship game Saturday.

Penetrating Dos Pueblos’ defense easily, Nothvogel scored 20 points on soft bank shots and kept the Chargers (5-4) from mounting a rally whenever it appeared they had momentum.

“I said to her after the game ‘What did you do differently?’ ” Simi Valley Coach Dave Murphy said. “She’s been making the good post moves, but she hasn’t been making the shots. Tonight she was banking them in.”

Said Nothvogel, whose touch of glass led to a career high in scoring: “Nothing else works.”

The Pioneers led, 39-38, when Bluitt fouled Nothvogel and went to the bench. Jeri Jacobs and Keira Irwin both made long-distance jumpers and Nothvogel added a six-foot bank shot to extend Simi Valley’s lead to 45-38 with five minutes to play.

“I was getting position and I was just making them,” Nothvogel said.

But Bluitt, who finished with 24 points, returned to recharge the Chargers. She made two free throws and a 20-foot jumper to cut Simi Valley’s lead to 55-52 with 1:40 to play.

But Irwin, who leads the Pioneers with a 13.4 scoring average, made two free throws in the final minute to preserve the win.

“It was tough,” Dos Pueblos Coach Jennifer Moreland said. “Bluitt had to sit out a quarter. That hurts.”

Irwin finished with 12 points, including 6 of 8 free throws. Jacobs added eight points.

Ventura 59, La Reina 28--La Reina’s Katie Foery scored a game-high 16 points--more than half her team’s total--but the Highlanders were routed. Michelle Di Guilio scored 15 points and Karry Wagoner added 13 for Ventura, which will play Santa Clara for fifth place Saturday.

Santa Clara 63, Royal 41--Santa Clara (4-5), the defending Frontier League champion, coasted into the fifth-place game behind senior Kris Ziets, who scored a game-high 19 points. Royal (3-4) was led by Kynn Di Natale with 14 points.

Burbank 33, Hart 31--A fourth-quarter scoring surge lifted Burbank into the consolation championship against Arroyo Grande. Burbank’s Jennifer Gomez led all scorers with 16 points and Christine Rumfoca added eight.

Nikki Brodowy scored 10 points for Hart.

Arroyo Grande 46, Saugus 29--Heather Norman led Arroyo Grande with 16 points.