Ventura Girls Make Long Trip Worth It, 71-66

Have guns will travel.

The Ventura High girls’ basketball team traveled 200 miles to play a basketball game Tuesday night. And the long trip paid off--thanks to some dead-eye shooting.

Ventura upset second-seeded El Cajon Valley, 71-66, in a Southern California regional Division II first-round game.

The Cougars made 26 of 56 shots from the field and 16 of 18 free throws.

Cori Herman, who led Ventura with a game-high 19 points--including three three-point baskets--said the Braves (27-2) were one of the tougher opponents the Cougars (24-4) had faced. Ventura is the Southern Section II-AA Division runner-up.

“On the way down here, we didn’t know what to expect because we knew nothing about them,” Herman said. “They turned out to be a very good physical ball-team that plays a great man-to-man defense.”

Andrea Williams (12 points) and Annika Dukes (11) were also in double figures for the Cougars, who led by as many 10 points in the first half.

El Cajon Valley battled back in the second half and took a 61-60 lead--its first since the opening basket--on Amonica Kraknes’ layup with three minutes to play.

However, the Cougars responded quickly with a three-point basket by Herman and an inside basket by Wendy Ward for a 65-61 lead with two minutes to play.

Herman and Denise Rea then made both ends of one-and-one situations to protect the lead.

Ventura Coach Glenn Gray believed the key to the win was prior experience against tough opponents and team speed. “They were bigger and more physical but we were a little quicker,” Gray said. “They are a good team but we are used to that because our league (Channel) is very tough.”