Buena’s LaVere Mends in Time

There’s something about this time of year that just makes Courtney LaVere sick.

Last season, she contracted mononucleosis and sat out Buena High’s final girls’ basketball game.

This year, she has battled a cold all of February.

LaVere might be weak, but her effort on Saturday night was nothing to sneeze at.

She had a career-high 29 points and 10 rebounds to help the Bulldogs fend off Irvine Woodbridge, 64-47, in a Southern Section Division I-A girls’ basketball semifinal at Ventura High.

Top-seeded Buena (28-0), ranked No. 1 in the nation, plays Troy on Friday or Saturday at the Pyramid at Long Beach for the championship.

“Obviously, Courtney LaVere was the difference tonight,” Coach Eric Bangs of No. 4-seeded Woodbridge (28-1) said.

North Carolina State-bound center Kelly Greathouse and Tennessee-bound guard Courtney Young of Buena both had rare off-nights, combining to make only nine of 31 shots.

Greathouse finished with 16 points and 19 rebounds. Young had 12 points and six assists.

“We were a little ugly overall,” said Coach Joe Vaughan, who will take his team to the final for the 14th time in the last 23 seasons, but the first since 1997.

Buena is seeking its seventh section title.

For a while, it looked like four-time section champion Woodbridge would be the one to advance.

The Warriors led much of the first half and were ahead, 27-22, with 90 seconds left in the half.

The Bulldogs answered with a 14-3 run that spanned into the third quarter.

LaVere, a 6-foot-2 junior forward who had a distinct size advantage underneath, scored 12 of those points.

“A lot of people had off-nights and I knew I had to step it up,” said LaVere, who made 10 of 13 shots. “I had the advantage on post-up and made the most of it.”

Woodbridge was called for 26 fouls, most attempting to match up with LaVere and the 6-3 Greathouse.

The Bulldogs made 23 of 33 free throws, with LaVere going nine for 11. The Warriors, who had three starters foul out, were 12 for 19.

Kelsi Sousa scored 12 points, Lara Gray had 10 and Kathryn Geneau added nine for Woodbridge.

Woodbridge, ranked No. 3 at the end of the season, was bumped to the No. 4 seed to allow Ventura, Buena’s Channel League rival, to move to the opposite bracket with the No. 3 seed.

It was Buena’s 21st semifinal appearance in 24 seasons.

This season’s senior class at Buena avoided becoming the first since 1977 to never advance to the final.

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* MORE GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFF COVERAGE ON D19.