GIRLS’ ROUNDUP : Buena’s Greathouse Enjoys Good Night

Glenn Gray spends most of his time coaching the Ventura High girls’ basketball team.

The rest of it is spent downplaying his team’s rivalry with neighborhood rival Buena.

But there was no disputing the importance of Tuesday night’s Channel League game. Both teams entered the game unbeaten in league play and clawing for sole possession of first place.

Buena walked away with a 51-35 victory at Ventura College and just may run away with the league title.

It was Buena’s youngest starter who stole the show. Sophomore center Nicole Greathouse scored a career-high 22 points and added 11 rebounds and two blocked shots.

That alone was nearly enough for the Bulldogs (9-2, 5-0 in league play), who have outscored league opponents by an average of 37 points. The victory over Ventura was Buena’s closest league game to date.

Buena Coach Joe Vaughan said he hopes the one-sided games won’t take a toll come playoff time.

“In the long run, it’s really not good for us,” he said.

And the playoffs are a given for Buena, which is ranked 10th in the state and has advanced beyond the first round of postseason play every season since 1973.

Jeanie Chenoweth and Ember Brown each scored 12 points for Ventura (8-5, 5-1), which pulled to within 29-22 with three minutes left in the third quarter but never threatened.