Buena Composes Another Trip to Title Game, 61-42

The season is young, but the Buena High School girls’ basketball team is playing the same old song.

It’s winning basketball and it’s music to the Bulldogs’ ears.

The Bulldogs, perennial champions of their own tournament, moved a step closer to winning it again with a 61-42 victory over Hart on Friday night at Buena.

Buena (3-0), which has won the event 17 of the past 19 years, is defending champion of the tournament and the Southern Section I-A Division, and was a state finalist last season.

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 1 in the Times’ regional poll, were too big an obstacle for Hart (3-1), the Times’ No. 4-ranked team.

Nicole Greathouse scored 22 points and pulled down 11 rebounds and forward Stephanie Kinnear added 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals to lead the Bulldogs, who led throughout but were limited to 23 points in the second half.

“It wasn’t our best, but we did well enough,” Kinnear said. “We’re looking forward to the championship game.”

Buena will play Santa Barbara for the title at 8 tonight. Santa Barbara lost to Alemany Friday night, but advanced to the title game based on total points differential in pool play.

“At times, we looked real good, and at other times we lapsed,” Greathouse said. “But we want to get better every game, and we will do well--and better.”

Hart was plagued by 25 turnovers, including 14 in the first half, and was unable to take full advantage of the Bulldogs’ most noticable lapse, during a five-minute span late in the third quarter and early in the fourth period.

“Against a good team, we did a great job,” Hart Coach Dave Munroe said. “I’m very proud of the way we played.”

Melissa Harrison scored 19 points for Hart.

Ventura 45, Chatsworth 33--Rhiannon Potkey had nine points and Alex Geintke grabbed 16 rebounds for the Cougars (2-1).

Philena McCallum and Irene Rodriguez scored nine points each for the Chancellors (1-5), who cut a 20-point halftime deficit down to six points with 3:25 left before Ventura scored seven of the last eight points of the game.

Alemany 65, Santa Barbara 62--Kelli Kobayashi scored 23 points and Kate Beckler added 18 for the Indians (2-2).