GIRLS’ ROUNDUP : Loara Goes Cold Down Stretch and Falls to Ventura, 40-39

With three seconds left to play in Saturday’s game, Cori Herman, who had just missed a free throw, made the second to give Ventura High School a 40-39 victory over Loara in the semifinals of the girls’ 4-AA playoffs at Savanna High.

Loara took a 13-5 lead in the first period, but Ventura (19-9) outscored the Saxons, 9-4, in the second. Midway through the third quarter, Ventura switched from a zone--which had focused on containing 6-foot-2 center Tracy Titus--to a man-to-man and again outscored the Saxons, 17-14.

Ventura, down by five with a minute left, held Loara scoreless the rest of the way. Titus, who finished with 15 points, missed two one-and-ones, and the Crusaders tied the score when Wendy Ward made one of two free throws with nine seconds left.

Herman stole Loara’s inbounds pass but missed her layup when she was fouled by Lisa Nakazono.