WSC Battle for State Supremacy

The showdown, Part II, is on.

College of the Canyons secured another meeting with Ventura, this time with everything on the line, by defeating Merced, 75-63, Friday night in a semifinal game of the Women’s Junior College State Basketball Championships at San Jose State.

The Cougars (33-4) and Ventura (35-1) square off today at 5 p.m. in an all-Western State Conference final and a rematch of their interdivisional game in January won by the Pirates, 77-70.

Canyons won the WSC Southern Division with a 12-0 record and Ventura won the Northern Division at 10-0.

“I think we are emotionally and physically ready to play Ventura,” said Greg Herrick, Canyons coach. “Our players want another chance.”

The Cougars, ranked second in the state, gave themselves that opportunity with a solid defensive effort against third-ranked Merced (31-6).

Canyons held the Blue Devils scoreless for the first 16:35, jumping to a 9-0 lead before Merced broke the shutout on forward Cristine Sanchez’s free throw.

The Blue Devils missed their first 11 shots and did not make a basket until Sanchez made a five-foot jumper with 11:50 left in the half.

Sanchez, averaging 16.8 points, made only nine of 30 shots but finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Her sister, Marina, had six points.

“We did a nice job on the sisters,” Herrick said. “People claim we don’t play any defense because we score so many points. . . . Our defense ignites our offense.”

The Cougars, riding a 21-game winning streak and making their first appearance in the title game, led the state with a 95.3-point average during the regular season. Merced entered the championships allowing 49.0 points per game, second best in the state.

But the Blue Devils could not contain LaCresha Clark’s outside shooting or Kyetra Brown’s drives to the basket that created scoring opportunities for Brown or for her teammates when she dished off.

Clark, a sophomore guard from Hart High, scored 17 points and Brown, a sophomore point guard, had 16 points and seven assists. Clark made four of seven three-point shots.

“I was told [by the coaches] to go to the basket more,” Clark said. “I was relaxing and not trying to rush the shot.”

Canyons led, 48-45, with 9:32 left but reeled off 12 consecutive points and the Blue Devils never challenged again.

The Cougars sealed the inside and controlled the boards, outrebounding Merced, 52-40. Center Zevette Mitchell had 12 rebounds for Canyons.

The Cougars, who remained low-key after the game, will face a Ventura team that is 70-1 in the past two seasons.

“It’s almost an attitude of business,” said Herrick, who is in his fifth season at Canyons. “We want to win the thing but it’s like going to work. We have a work day [today].”

Gohar Tumanian scored 12 points for Canyons and Nikki Turner added 10.

Lorena Gonzalez scored 12 points for Merced before fouling out with 4:55 to play.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

JC Women’s Basketball State Championships

At San Jose State

All Times Pacific

Semifinals

* Ventura 76, Solano 49

* Canyons 75, Merced 63

Championship

Ventura vs. Canyons, 5 p.m. today