Murray’s 19 Points Lift Buena Over National Power

Kelly Murray scored nine of her 19 points in the third quarter and the Buena High girls’ basketball team defeated South Sioux City, Neb., 60-51, Tuesday in the ninth-place game of the Santa Barbara tournament’s National Invitational Division at Santa Barbara City College.

Murray, who had four assists and three steals, made 12 of 16 free throws and Buena (8-1), the top-ranked team in The Times’ regional poll, was 25 of 31 from the free-throw line.

South Sioux City (6-2) entered the tournament with a 42-game winning streak and was ranked No. 10 in the nation by USA Today.

Buena got 16 points and nine rebounds from Kelly Greathouse, and reserve guard Liz Matthews had 10 points and six assists in her first significant playing time of the season.

Matthews’ opportunity came after the Bulldogs lost guard Cori Lewis to a knee injury in a victory over Orem, Utah, on Monday. Lewis is scheduled for an MRI test later this week.

The Bulldogs limited South Sioux City standouts Katie Robinette and Nicole Gesell to 16 points and two points, respectively. Robinette entered the tournament averaging 25.5 points, Gesell 15 points.

Buena finished 3-1 in the tournament, losing its opener to Murrah of Jacksonville, Miss., ranked No. 4 by USA Today.One of Buena’s victories came against Berkeley, ranked No. 9 by USA Today.

In other Santa Barbara tournament games:

Cerritos 68, Ventura 62--The Cougars rallied from a 12-point deficit in the final five minutes to force overtime, but were outscored, 11-5, in the extra period in the Gold Division’s ninth-place semifinal game.

Estelle Diaz had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Ventura (5-4), ranked No. 8 in the region by The Times.

Alex Gientke had 13 points and Kristine Gleisberg had 13 rebounds for the Cougars.

Dos Pueblos 55, Nordhoff 41--Christen Roper scored 18 points for Nordhoff (3-8) in the 11th-place game of the Santa Barbara tournament’s Green Division.

Roper, a 6-foot-5 center, picked up two early fouls and sat out the last 12 minutes of the first half. She was called for two fouls early in the third quarter and was forced to sit out most of the second half.

Claire Gardner replaced Roper and had eight points and nine rebounds.

Jen Wells made five three-point baskets in the second half to finish with 15 points for Dos Pueblos.

In other games:

Grant 66, Littlerock 60--Leslie Mui sank three three-point baskets in the first quarter and Krystal Clay scored eight of her 21 points in the same quarter for the Lancers, who built a 23-8 lead and coasted in a ninth-place semifinal game of the Simi Valley tournament.

Mui, who was sidelined with flu for several games this season, finished with 16 points and made four of five three-point shots.

Clay had eight rebounds for Grant (7-7).

Poly 31, Bishop 25--Gabby Gallardo had 20 rebounds for the Parrots, who held a significant rebounding edge in the 13th-place game of the Los Alamitos tournament.

Jennifer Alfaro added 11 rebounds for Poly (2-6).