Buena Joins the 700 Club

Ventura Buena High, the state’s winningest girls’ basketball program, won its 700th game on Thursday night, but it wasn’t easy.

The Bulldogs overcame a third-quarter deficit to defeat visiting Huntington Beach, 59-48, in a Southern Section Division II-AA playoff opener and advance to the second round for the 26th consecutive season.

Huntington Beach (12-15) went on a 13-0 run in the third quarter to take its only lead, 41-39. The Oilers then missed their next 14 shots as Buena (18-8) went on a 20-4 run.

“We didn’t want the season to end this early,” said Buena center Courtney LaVere, who had 24 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots. “We have a lot of pressure on us here, but we all rose to the challenge.”

Amy Glassman had 11 points, Sheana Triana scored 10 and Shannon Antunez added eight for No. 4-seeded Buena, which will meet Moorpark, a 55-45 winner over Cerritos, on Saturday at a site to be determined.

Amy Shaw scored 23 points, including five three-pointers, and Pepperdine-bound forward Kelsey Ball added 12 before fouling out for Huntington Beach.

In 31 seasons, Buena is 700-85, an .892 winning percentage.

“It’s great for the program,” Coach Joe Vaughan said. “But we’d like to get a few more this year.”

Dave Desmond

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Pico Rivera El Rancho 46, Alhambra 43--Freshman Kelly DeLoach hit a game-winning three-pointer with five seconds to play in a Division I-AA wild-card game at El Rancho.

DeLoach led El Rancho (12-11), which advances to play top-seeded Lynwood on Saturday, with 14 points. Natalie Musquiz scored 12 and Stephanie Hodgden added 11. Alhambra finishes 11-16.

Santa Ana Century 41, Trabuco Hills 39--Ruta Autele hit a 14-footer with two seconds remaining in overtime to lift visiting Century to a Division I-A wild-card victory.

Maria Orozco finished with 14 points and Autele had 12 for Century (13-14), which plays at second-seeded Westminster on Saturday. Jessie Mitchell led Trabuco Hills (15-12) with 10 points.

South Torrance 54, Goleta Dos Pueblos 51--Jamie Hagiya, who finished with 31 points, made a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the host Spartans a Division II-A first-round victory. South Torrance (23-5) trailed, 22-13, at halftime.

Santa Paula 56, Mission Hills Alemany 53--Sarah Ruiz scored 22 points for host Santa Paula (19-7), which won its first Southern Section playoff game in school history with the Division III-AA first-round victory. Cynthia Urena scored 13 points for Alemany (11-17).