Young’s 3-Dimensional Offense Sinks Ventura

Courtney Young beat the Ventura High girls’ basketball team at its own game.

Young hit six three-pointers and scored 28 points to help Buena overcome a strong Ventura three-point attack in a 68-59 Channel League victory Thursday night at Ventura High.

The Bulldogs (20-0, 5-0 in league play) ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today, survived a scare from Ventura (15-5, 2-3).

The Cougars hit 13 three-pointers in a game in which the teams combined for 20.

The Bulldogs led by three points at halftime and held only a three-point lead midway through the third quarter before pulling away.

“That is way too many [three-pointers] to allow,” Buena Coach Joe Vaughan said. “We didn’t do a very good job defending them. They had to shoot at least 50% to have a chance, and they just about did that.”

Ventura connected on 13 of 28 three-point shots.

Kelly Fay scored 22 points and hit six three-pointers for the Cougars. Katy O’Brien had 19 and connected on four three-pointers. Jenni Dooley scored 10 points and had two three-pointers.

“In a tight game, that is the best I have ever seen us shoot,” Ventura Coach Ann Larson said. “It’s easy to hit like that when you’re up by 30 points. We created some shots and hit them when it mattered.”

Ventura trailed, 14-6, after one quarter but got hot in the second quarter, connecting on five of six three-pointers and trimming the Buena lead to 30-27 at halftime.

Ventura clipped the lead to 37-34 with 5:50 left in the third quarter.

Buena established its inside game, putting together a 10-1 run that extended the lead to 47-35 with 2:29 to play in the quarter.

Young kept the Bulldogs in the game. The Tennessee-bound senior scored 15 points in the first half, including three three-pointers.

“We knew that’s how they were going to come out and try to beat us,” Young said. “The past couple of games we haven’t had the same intensity as we’ve had in the past. We need to get it back.”

Kelly Greathouse scored 16 points and Courtney LaVere had 12 points for Buena.

“We’re human like every other team,” Young said. “We’re not going to put up the [lopsided] outcome people expect every time.”

Vaughan said Young’s perimeter attack was neededbecause the Bulldogs struggled to establish a consistent interior offense.