BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Hardy Leads Ventura to Win in Title Game

Julie Hardy turned in a 31-point performance, including five three-point baskets, to earn most valuable player honors and lead the Ventura College women’s basketball team to a 66-63 victory over Cypress in the championship game of the Valley College tournament Saturday night. The same teams had a week before in the final of the Cypress tournament, with Cypress coming out on top in overtime.

Although the rematch was concluded without any extra periods, it was not without its share of excitement. After trailing, 48-32, with 15 minutes left to play, Ventura (8-3) went to a full-court press and outscored the Chargers, 34-14.

Ahead, 64-61, Ventura had the ball out of bounds with five seconds left and attempted to take a timeout that it didn’t have.

Stephanie Werdel of Cypress (12-2) hit both free throws, but Hardy blocked a shot after the inbounds pass to save the game.

In another women’s game:

Azusa Pacific 66, The Master’s 60--The Master’s let a four-point halftime lead slip away at home and the Mustangs fell to 0-3 in National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics District III play. Deb Prociw had 21 points and Kim Devries added 15 points and six rebounds for The Master’s (1-5 overall). Christy Heyer led Azusa Pacific with 18 points and former College of the Canyons standout Shannon Solway added 11 points and nine rebounds.

MEN

Moorpark 88, MiraCosta 57--Danny Alexander scored 25 points and Paul Foster added 24 points and 13 rebounds as Moorpark rolled to the consolation championship at the Cuesta tournament in San Luis Obispo. Former Agoura High standout Sean Martin had 10 points and 14 assists and David Fennell added 10 points and four steals for Moorpark (8-3).

BOYS

Bell-Jeff 53, Brethren Christian 46--Dan Mancinelli scored eight of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter to lead Bell-Jeff to its third consecutive victory and the consolation championship of the Faith Baptist tournament. Mancinelli sank six of seven free throws in the fourth quarter as Bell-Jeff (4-3) converted 10 of 11 shots from the line in the period and 21 of 25 overall.

Buena 65, Torrance 63--The Bulldogs (3-4) survived Torrance’s fourth-quarter rally and finished 11th in the Beverly Hills tournament.

Buena led, 55-40, after three periods, but the Bulldogs were outscored, 23-10, in the final quarter and narrowly escaped.

Leuzinger 79, Crespi 74 (2 OT)--A leaky gymnasium roof forced the teams to play the fifth-place game of the El Segundo tournament in the girls’ gymnasium. Once there, Crespi (3-4) fell when Leuzinger (5-1) scored the first nine points in the second extra period.

Nick DiPasquale (17 points) and Pete Soule (15) led Crespi, and all-league defensive end Brett Nordyke added 14 points in his first game for the Celts.

St. Bonaventure 71, Village Christian 67 (OT)--Rod Tepesano (24 points) hit a three-point basket with five seconds left in regulation to tie it, 63-63, and the Seraphs went on to beat Village Christian (3-5) in the third-place game of the Fillmore tournament.

L.A. Baptist 45, Fillmore 44--Landon LaPack sank a pair of free throws with no time remaining to vault L.A. Baptist to the consolation championship at the Fillmore tournament. Tom Smithwick’s three-point basket had given Fillmore (3-2) the lead nine seconds earlier. Nate Wendt had 12 rebounds for L.A. Baptist (4-1).

Harvard-Westlake 54, Oak Park 51--Freshman Jason Collins scored 10 of his game-high 15 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Wolverines in the championship game of the Faith Baptist tournament. Harvard-Westlake (6-0) took the lead for good late in the third quarter on two three-point baskets by Ben Robbins,

Campbell Hall 52, Bishop Montgomery 47--Damon Glynth scored all eight of his points in the fourth quarter to help the Vikings (6-1) erase a five-point deficit with three minutes to play in the third-place game of the El Segundo tournament.

Montclair Prep 58, Orange Lutheran 52--Reed Berglund scored 16 points and Henry Bell added 13 to lead the Mounties (6-1) past Orange Lutheran (2-3) in a nonleague game.

GIRLS

Alemany 52, Rippon Christian 29--Samantha Rigley scored 19 points and Carley Funicello added 12 in a nonleague game to keep the Indians (6-0) undefeated.

Rancho Alamitos 51, Westlake 50--Tianna Meriaje and Megan Carmola each scored 15 points for the Warriors (2-2), but Westlake was thwarted by Akika Rodgers’ 30 points in a consolation final of the Brea-Olinda tournament.

Village Christian 50, Quartz Hill 36--Unbeaten Village Christian broke open the nonleague game in the fourth period by outscoring host Quartz Hill, 19-5. Sophomore forward Lindy James led Village Christian (6-0) with season bests of 26 points and 15 rebounds, and Trisha Palmquist chipped in with 10 points.

Fillmore 43, L.A. Baptist 41-- The Knights rallied from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter but fell short in the consolation final of the Nordhoff tournament. Lori Neville of L.A. Baptist (2-6) scored nine of her 19 points in the final period. Julie Arundell led Fillmore with 26 points.

Monroe 55, Garfield 39--Dimara Haymond scored a season-high 27 points to go with 19 rebounds as Monroe (5-2) took third place in the Garfield tournament.

Burroughs 45, Crescenta Valley 39--The visiting Indians remained undefeated behind Susie Babko, who scored 13 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had four steals in the nonleague game.