Another Win Earns Ventura More Respect

Ventura High’s march toward respect continued on Wednesday.

The Cougars outclassed Esperanza, 49-33, for the Large Schools Division title of the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions at UC Santa Barbara.

But there are no national rankings for Ventura (8-0), like the ones enjoyed by 14 other teams that played in the 64-team, four-division girls’ basketball showcase.

“I still don’t think we have that high level of respect yet,” said Alex Gientke, who scored all 12 of her points in the second half against Esperanza (7-2).

The fight for attention is an annual challenge for the Cougars, who live in the shadow of neighborhood rival Buena, ranked 10th in the nation and the most successful program in the state over the past 25 years.

But the focus is beginning to shift, if only a little.

A 60-57 victory over Buena two weeks ago was the first attention-getter. An impressive week here was another.

With Santa Clara-bound swing player Gientke and Oregon State-bound forward Kristine Gleisberg, Ventura was barely challenged in four games.

It held Esperanza to 24% shooting one day after the Aztecs shot 62 percent in a 70-52 semifinal rout of Huntington Beach Edison.

Lindsay Helvey scored 11 points and Kristin Peters added nine for the Aztecs.

“Everything is working for us right now,” said Gleisberg, who had 19 points and six rebounds, and was picked the tournament’s most valuable player. “We’re moving right along.”

While Gientke and Gleisberg have received much of the credit, the Cougars have their second tournament title and an unblemished record because of a solid lineup and a deep bench.

Point guard Katy O’Brien, who scored seven points, has made 30 of 31 free-throw attempts and done a good job feeding her Division I teammates in scoring position.

Shooting guard Renee Jimenez, who had six points, and reserve Jenni Dooley are legitimate three-point threats, and forward Estelle Diaz is capable of hurting opponents who overplay Gleisberg.

Ventura is ranked No. 1 in the region by The Times, but still seeks its first Channel League title of the decade.

Buena, ranked second, has won 66 consecutive games in the Channel.

“We know we’re in town with an excellent program,” Coach Glenn Gray II said of Buena. “It’s not easy in the town we live in, but we’re just trying to be ourselves and have a good season.”

And get a little more respect, perhaps.

In another tournament game:

Harvard-Westlake 51, Chatsworth 39--L’Tanya Robnett scored 11 of her 28 points in the third quarter as the Wolverines (4-3) broke a 24-24 tie to win the ninth-place game of the California Small Schools Division.

Liz Sun had 13 points for Chatsworth (8-4), which used an 11-0 run to rally from a nine-point deficit and take a 24-22 edge just before halftime.