No Matter the Obstacles, Vaughan Again Is No.1

Every season is special for Buena High under Coach Joe Vaughan, whose girls’ teams are 506-52 in 21 seasons. None has lost more than four games and 11 have advanced to the Southern Section finals.

But this season was more difficult and ultimately more satisfying than most. Vaughan may have done his best coaching job in leading the Bulldogs to a 30-2 record. Vaughan, the state’s all-time victory leader among girls’ basketball coaches, nosed out a strong group of coaches for the Ventura County girls’ Coach of the Year honor.

Dave Murphy led Simi Valley to a record of 27-3 and to the Southern Section Division I-AA semifinals. Brent Milburn led Moorpark to 24 consecutive victories before the team fell in the Division III-AA semifinals, and Jack Smith of Nordhoff and Oliver Harvey of Cornerstone Christian took their teams to the second round of the Southern California Regionals.

But Buena advanced farther and posted more victories than any team in the county.

It marked only the second 30-victory season for Buena, which won the Southern Section Division I-A championship, beating Mater Dei before losing to the Lady Monarchs in the Southern California Regional final.

The Bulldogs accomplished so much despite adversity.

Vaughan dedicated the season to his father, Grady, who died in October, and it seemed early on that this team could bring Buena its first state championship since 1984. The Bulldogs were ranked nationally and won their first 17 games.

But a season-ending knee injury to All-State guard Eboni Conley hurt the team. In its first game without Conley, Buena played poorly and lost a nonleague game to Orange County power Woodbridge.

The Bulldogs regrouped, however, and reeled off nine victories in a row, finishing an unbeaten Channel League campaign and marching through the Division I-A playoffs.

Playoff victories over Canyon, Chino, Crescenta Valley and Mater Dei gave Vaughan his fifth Southern Section title. The meticulous preparation and emphasis on team play that characterizes Vaughan’s teams were never more evident.

“Not many people believed we could accomplish what we did without Eboni,” Vaughan said. “Every other girl on the team stepped up and filled the void.”

The Bulldogs defeated Palisades and Palmdale in the regionals before falling to Mater Dei in a rematch. The victory over Palmdale brought more hardship when former Buena Principal Arleigh W. McConnell died of a heart attack suffered in the stands during the game.

“All in all, it was a tough year that was made worthwhile because of the dedication of my players,” Vaughan said.