AREA COLLEGE NOTEBOOK

Look at the roster filled with freshmen and it hardly seems possible. But, then again, this is Ventura College women’s basketball.

The Pirates (25-4) are ranked No. 1 in California, a familiar perch, and steaming toward their 11th consecutive Western State Conference Northern Division title.

“The kids are not only understanding themselves and their teammates but also the coaching staff,” Coach Ned Mircetic said. “We are not that great of a talented team, but we are playing well together.

“All of them make this the nicest bunch of players I’ve ever had.”

This was supposed to be a rebuilding season for the Pirates. They were 38-0 last season and won their third state championship in five seasons, but the team had no returning players.

The inexperience showed when Ventura dropped two of three games to start the season.

Not to worry. Under Mircetic, in his 11th season, Ventura got its act together and is among the contenders to win the state tournament on March 8-10 at Stockton.

Ventura first must wrap up the regular season and win the Southern California regional, but the Pirates have half of that mission nearly completed.

Entering a game at Moorpark on Wednesday night, Ventura led the WSC Northern Division at 9-0 with three games to play. Second-place Santa Barbara was 6-2, and Moorpark and Hancock were 6-3.

“They’ve been intense with a purpose to improve,” Mircetic said of the Pirates.

Guard Kelly Murray, formerly of Buena High and UC Irvine, leads the team with a 15.8 scoring average.

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With a victory at Citrus on Wednesday night, Coach Brian Beauchemin of the Glendale men’s basketball team moved closer to a milestone.

Beauchemin has a 397-284 record in 22 seasons with the Vaqueros.

Although records are incomplete, it is believed only a handful of men’s coaches in California have 400 or more career victories, including some no longer active.