Ventura Hits a Dead End in Santa Barbara

The stunned expressions on the faces of the Ventura High players said it all.

The dream season of the Cougars, ranked No. 1 in the region and seeded No. 3 in the Division I-A playoffs, had come to an end in a most unlikely fashion.

It ended with a 50-48 loss Wednesday night to Channel League rival Santa Barbara, a team Ventura (25-2) defeated handily in two previous meetings this season.

Forward Lisa Willett’s 15-foot jumper with four seconds left in the game and the 30-second shot clock expiring broke a 48-48 tie.

Renee Jiminez of Ventura threw up an air ball on a three-point shot as time expired.

“This is our biggest win since we beat Chino in 1988,” said Coach Andrew Butcher of Santa Barbara. “But the difference is we know these people. We consider them our friends. They’re a classy program and it’s probably the best team they’ve ever had.”

After the game, Coach Glenn Gray II of Ventura didn’t dwell on the final frantic seconds.

Instead he recalled the first 54 seconds of the game when Alex Gientke, leading scorer for the Cougars, picked up two fouls.

She sat out most of the first half and didn’t score until the fourth quarter.

“When your best player gets two fouls in the first [54 seconds], it makes things very difficult,” Gray said.

Little did anyone suspect the Cougars would lead for the last time, 6-5, on a free throw by reserve guard Jenni Dooley with 4:04 remaining in the first quarter.

Ventura managed to tie on several occasions but trailed most of the game.

“It was frustrating,” said post player Kristine Gleisberg of Ventura. “We got off to a slow start and just couldn’t seem to get anything going.”

Willett, an adept outside shooter who has signed with UC Santa Barbara, appeared to put the Cougars out of their misery when she made a three-point basket to give the Dons a 42-30 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Ventura fought its way back behind Gientke, who scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, including her three-point basket that made it 48-48 with 35 seconds remaining.

Gleisberg finished with 12 points for Ventura.

Willett had 24 points and eight rebounds, and Araceli Gil scored 10 points for Santa Barbara (19-9).

The teams were tied 26-26 at halftime.

BUENA FALLS: Cerritos knocks off region’s second-ranked team. Page 12