Young of Old Helps Buena Advance

Courtney Young transferred to Buena High in August, but she officially arrived Saturday night.

She pulled right up, loaded the rest of the Bulldogs for the ride and delivered them to the semifinals of the nation’s biggest girls’ basketball showcase.

Young scorched South Sioux City, Neb., the No. 9 team in the nation, for a season-high 26 points in a 54-50 quarterfinal victory of the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions at the UC Santa Barbara Events Center.

Buena plays Canyon, Texas, at 6:30 p.m. on Monday in the semifinals of the 16-team tournament, which features 13 teams ranked among the top 20 in the nation.

“We needed that from Courtney, big-time,” said teammate Kelly Greathouse, who had 17 points and 12 rebounds for 12th-ranked Buena.

Young, a sophomore All-American last season when she averaged 26 points at Crossroads, moved to Buena last summer amid much fanfare, then began this season with the flu and an 11-point average.

“I’ve felt like I couldn’t get going all season,” said Young, who sank two free throws with 34 seconds left to break a 50-50 tie. “This game, I finally let loose.”

It was perfect timing.

With high-scoring center Courtney LaVere sick with the flu, and little scoring help from anyone other than Greathouse, Young stepped up, gliding through the Cardinals’ press, slashing to the basket and forcing fouls.

Young made 11 of 16 free throws and scored 13 of her points during an 18-12 fourth quarter when Buena overcame a 38-36 deficit.

“This is the first time she’s been able to find her niche for us and she found a great showcase to do it,” said Coach Joe Vaughan.

Young’s effort overshadowed an impressive performance by Nicole Oliver, bound for Houston, who scored 24 points, and Katie Robinette, who had 16 for South Sioux City (6-1).

More of the same will be necessary from Young if the Bulldogs (7-1) expect to advance further.

Seventh-ranked Canyon of Texas (12-0) ended San Jose Archbishop Mitty’s state-best 35-game winning streak with an 89-55 rout in another quarterfinal.

No. 1 Narbonne plays No. 4 Copperas Cove, Texas, defending tournament champion, in the other semifinal at 8.

Clutch performances are nothing new for Young, who led Crossroads to the Tournament of Champions’ Small Schools Division title last season and was named most valuable player.

“I like it here,” she said.

In other Tournament of Champions games:

Ventura 91, Fountain Valley 36--Kristine Gleisberg scored 20 points and had six rebounds for the Cougars in a first-round victory.

Alex Gientke had nine points and nine assists for the Cougars (5-0), ranked No. 1 in the region by the Times.

Renee Jiminez scored 11 points and Katie O’Brien had 10 points and 14 of Ventura’s 27 assists.

Marin Catholic 52, Harvard-Westlake 50--Brooke Porter scored 20 points and L’Tanya Robnett added 16 for the Wolverines (2-3), who squandered a 40-20 halftime lead and lost a first-round game of the California Small Schools Division.

Brooke Smith scored 15 points for Marin Catholic (6-1).

Stockton St. Mary’s 60, Chatsworth 33--Liz Sun scored 14 points for the Chancellors (6-3) in a first-round loss in the California Small Schools Division.

Esperanza 56, Palmdale 18--Jennifer Albertson scored six points for the Falcons (4-4), who trailed, 31-5, at halftime of a first-round game in the California Small Schools Division.

Atherton Sacred Heart 70, Nordhoff 12--The Rangers (2-4) were outrebounded, 72-12, in the first-round loss of the California Small Schools Division.

Sacred Heart defeated Santa Ana Calvary Chapel, 48-43, for the state Division IV title last season.