Buena Breaks Free From Ventura

Free throws were pretty much slam dunks for Buena High.

Buena made 22 of 24 free throws in a 57-48 victory over Ventura in a Channel League girls’ basketball game Thursday night at Buena.

The Bulldogs, who won their 62nd consecutive league game, showed that they don’t let their guard down that often.

Senior guard Kelly Murray, who had a forgettable game Tuesday night against Santa Barbara, scored 17 points, or 15 more than she scored 48 hours earlier.

“It was like, I need to step up and help this team,” Murray said. “It was a personal goal.”

She also knew a coach from the University of Denver was in attendance.

“That put a little bit of pressure on me,” said Murray, who has been in contact with the Pioneers. “But I tried not to pay too much attention to it.”

Buena, ranked No. 1 in the region by The Times, finished a challenging six-day stretch with a 3-0 record.

The Bulldogs (16-2, 4-0 in league play) defeated Crescenta Valley, ranked No. 2 in the region, last Saturday and then beat a tough Santa Barbara team.

“This has been a big three games for us at a critical time in the season,” Coach Joe Vaughan of Buena said. “I think the kids have responded real well.”

How could he argue with 11 of 12 free-throw shooting in each half?

Ventura (12-9, 1-2), ranked No. 7, practically shut down the Buena inside game with a press that caused havoc in the backcourt, therefore slowing down the halfcourt game.

The Cougars rallied several times, but never led other than 3-0.

“We play teams close, but after a while, no one cares about that,” said Coach Glenn Gray II of Ventura. “Ventura kids play with heart, but that only carries you so far. We hope to get it together in time for playoffs.”

Buena defeated Ventura, 62-57, on Dec. 12 in the championship of its own tournament.

The going gets easier for Buena, which is expected to get back guard Melissa Flores, who has a foot injury, in time for the Feb. 8 rematch at Ventura.

Buena appeared on its way to a rout, shutting out Ventura for the final seven minutes of the first quarter and taking a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter.

But Ventura wasn’t through, hitting three-pointers on consecutive trips down the court and drawing to within 20-17 on a spinner in the lane by Alex Gientke with 2:16 left until halftime.

Ventura made four three-pointers in the fourth quarter, including one by Renee Jimenez that pulled the Cougars to within 53-48 with 34 seconds to play.

But Buena made four free throws--two by Murray, two by Kathryn Torres--to end the threat.

“I don’t know if you want to call it luck or practice, but we had a good shooting night at the free-throw line,” Murray said.

Gientke finished with 20 points for Ventura, which made 11 of 16 free throws.

Murray made all nine of her free throw, and Courtney LaVere made all six of hers and finished with eight points.