Thousand Oaks Eliminated by Buena, 44-30

Stephanie Rainwater scored 17 points--all after the first quarter--as the Buena High girls’ team defeated Thousand Oaks, 44-30, in a Southern Section 4-A Division quarterfinal game Saturday at Buena.

The Bulldogs advanced to the semifinals against Morningside despite shooting 34% (15 of 44) from the field. Thousand Oaks answered with its lowest offensive output of the season and shot only 24% (12 of 51).

Center Barbara Tanner led the Lancers with nine points, but Buena’s sagging defense effectively took away the Lancers’ inside game. Thousand Oaks (25-4) failed to ease the pressure by hitting from outside.

“Early on we had many open shots, we just didn’t make them,” Thousand Oaks Coach Chuck Brown said after his team’s 18-game winning streak was snapped. “Mainly I think we were pressing too hard.”

As was Buena (24-2), which implemented a full-court press that led to many of the Lancers’ 20 turnovers.

The Bulldogs trailed, 10-5, after one quarter, but went ahead to stay in the second behind six points each by Rainwater and Gia Giordano.