Ann Larson, Ventura High girls’ coach in...

Ann Larson, Ventura High girls’ coach in her first year with the Cougars after spending 12 years as an assistant at cross-town rival Buena, returned to her old stomping grounds for last week’s Buena tournament.

She made herself at home, letting her team into the locker room with ease and waving hello to familiar faces in the crowd.

“I took [Joe Vaughan’s] keys,” Larson said with a laugh, referring to the Buena coach and athletic director. “I know where everything is.”

The Cougars (6-1), ranked No. 2 in the region by The Times, played to a runner-up finish behind Buena, ranked No. 1 in the region by The Times and No. 19 in USA Today’s Super 25 preseason rankings.

Larson, a teacher at Ventura along with her husband, boys’ Coach Dan Larson, is comfortable with her new surroundings.

“We see each other between classes,” she said. “There’s days when we’re there from 7:30 in the morning until well after dark.”