Campbell’s Buzzer-Beater Lifts Hart to Simi Valley Title

Ali Campbell was at her best when it mattered most.

Hart High’s sophomore guard, prodded since last season by her coach to drive to the basket more, did just that on Saturday night and buried a running three-foot hook at the buzzer to give the Indians a 49-47 victory over Simi Valley in the championship game of the Simi Valley tournament.

The basket, which set off a celebration at mid-court, gave Hart (10-3) its third Simi Valley tournament title in five seasons and ended a dramatic fourth quarter that included 11 lead changes and two ties.

“For the fans, it was a close, exciting game,” Simi Valley Coach Dave Murphy said.

But for the Pioneers (8-2), it was a gut-wrenching loss, their third in a row in their own tournament final.

Sarah Ripley scored 13 points for Simi Valley and teammate Teresa Cooper had 19, including a driving basket with 19 seconds left to tie it, 47-47.

Amanda Patton of Hart, the tournament’s most valuable player, scored 16 points and freshman forward Brandi Kimble added 10.

The Indians called a timeout with 16 seconds left and Coach Dave Munroe called a play for either Kimble or Patton.

But Kimble was stopped on a drive and passed to Patton, who was swarmed under the basket.

Patton made a quick pass to a surprised Campbell along the baseline.

“I knew I had to shoot it,” said Campbell, who had nine points. “When I got the ball, there was only five seconds left, so there weren’t a lot of other options.”

Campbell, who also scored from close range with 30 seconds left to give Hart a 47-45 lead, turned out to be the best option.

“That was a Christmas shot right there, and we’ll take it,” Munroe said.

In other Simi Valley tournament games:

Camarillo 56, Grant 41--Gillian Lillich scored 21 points for Camarillo (9-2) in the third-place game.

Krystal Clay scored 26 points for Grant (3-6), which played without All-Valley guard Alexis Weatherspoon, who injured her neck on Friday, and without point guard Deja Cruz, who was taken to the hospital with a first-quarter knee injury.

Valencia 58, Canyon 56--Stephanie Patterson scored 16 points and Valerie Pina had 10 for the Vikings (11-3), who defeated their Foothill League rival in the fifth-place game.

Ashley Palmer scored 16 points for Canyon (10-5).

Alemany 73, Santa Clara 71--Mariama Wrighster scored 16 points and three teammates also scored in double figures for the Indians (4-6), who won the seventh-place game.

Elizabeth Fernandez had 25 points for Santa Clara (5-9), which was playing without All-Southern Section center Ashley Biggins.

Rio Mesa 60, El Camino Real 49--Lorraine Lee had 15 points for Rio Mesa in the ninth-place game. Karen Shun scored 12 points for El Camino Real.

Monroe 47, Littlerock 43--Desiree Norihiro scored 19 points for Monroe in the 11th-place game. Rashawna Mays had 23 points for Littlerock.