Ventura Girls Advance to Regional Final

All the Ventura High girls seemed to get hot at the same time in the third quarter of Thursday night’s semifinal in the Southern California Division II basketball regional. Five scored in the pivotal period as the Cougars pulled away from host Bakersfield North en route to a 72-58 victory.

Ventura will face Brea-Olinda, a 61-47 winner over Carlsbad on Thursday, in the regional final Saturday at the Sports Arena. Brea-Olinda defeated Ventura, 50-42, for the Southern Section II-AA Division final last week.

Against Bakersfield North, the Cougars scored in every way imaginable: on fast breaks and in their half-court offense, with rebound follows, layups and jump shots.

Four Ventura players scored in double figures. Forward Andrea Williams led Ventura (25-4) with 14 points, forward Denise Rea and guard Cori Herman each had 13, and guard Wendy Ward had 11.

All were instrumental in the Cougars’ 21-10 third-quarter surge that increased Ventura’s 32-26 halftime advantage to 53-36 entering the fourth quarter.

“We shot the ball pretty good,” Ventura Coach Glenn Gray said. “We are capable of doing that. Last year, Williams and Ward didn’t believe in themselves. This year they do. That’s why we are better.”

The Stars, who also lost to Ventura last year in the opening round of the regional, had three players score in double figures, but their top offensive players spent too much time on the bench in foul trouble.

Lorraine Ash, the Stars’ leading scorer all season, picked up her fourth foul with four minutes left in the third quarter and Bakersfield North (24-6) trailing, 41-32. When she returned with 5:13 to play, Ventura led, 59-45.

The Cougars, meanwhile were making crisp passes to set up good shots for a variety of players.

“They are a great shooting team.” Bakersfield North Coach Curt DeRossett said. “I knew they were. I was hoping that we could get out and put a hand in the shooter’s face.”

Herman had eight rebounds and Rea had five for the Cougars.