Grant Turns Around on El Camino Real

Grant High earned a measure of payback on Friday night, defeating El Camino Real, 61-51, in the semifinals of the Thousand Oaks girls’ basketball tournament.

El Camino Real handed Grant a painful setback with a last-second shot on Dec. 7.

“We were devastated when we lost to them the last time,” said forward Krystal Clay, who had 27 points and eight rebounds.

“When Coach [Steve Brumwell] told us we had a chance to play them again in this tournament, we were excited.”

Grant (6-6) will play defending tournament champion Royal (10-3) tonight at 8 for the title.

Last week, it appeared Grant’s season was in shambles.

All-league guard Deja Cruz went down with a knee injury--her future is still uncertain--All-Valley guard Alexis Weatherspoon was out with a neck injury and Grant lost its last two games in the Simi Valley tournament.

What a difference a week makes.

Weatherspoon is healthy, as evidenced by her 11 points against El Camino Real.

Temma Healey has filled the scoring void left by Cruz, who was averaging 16 points a game.

Healey has averaged 14.3 points in the tournament, including 15 against the Conquistadores.

“Things are starting to click right now,” Brumwell said. “All of a sudden, there’s confidence.”

Grant set out to limit the damage caused by forward Karen Shun of El Camino Real, who was averaging 30 points in the tournament.

Shun battled the flu, as well as a diamond-and-one defense, and scored only six points. She had 18 rebounds.

Guard Victoria Wong scored a career-high 24 points, including five consecutive baskets in the first half as the Conquistadores built a 28-20 lead.

Aubree Smithey, who made the buzzer-beater in the 62-60 victory over Grant, added 11 points.

“The first game, we had enough of a lead to hold them off,” said Conquistadore Coach Lori Chandler. “This time, we didn’t. It’s tough beating a good team twice.”

El Camino Real (6-4) is the second team to learn that lesson.

Grant defeated Camarillo, 49-44, in a quarterfinal Wednesday, avenging a loss to the Scorpions last week in the Simi Valley tournament.

“You don’t get a second chance too often,” Brumwell said. “We’ve been fortunate.”

In other Thousand Oaks tournament games:

Royal 55, Notre Dame 39--Novey Woodard-Parker scored 18 points for Royal in the other semifinal.

Sierra Hauser-Price had nine points for Notre Dame (7-7).

North Hollywood 58, Crescenta Valley 53--Richelle Sherman scored 31 points to lead the Huskies to an overtime victory in a consolation game.

Jeanine Deno scored 22 points for Crescenta Valley.

Saugus 50, Westlake 26--Sheridan Arredondo had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Centurions (11-2) in a consolation victory.