Girls basketball: Ventura beats Oxnard to earn share of Channel League title with Buena
Ventura High gripped the Channel League title with defense and never let go.
So was the tenacity that led the Cougars to a 54-43 win over Oxnard at home Thursday to secure a share of the Channel League's girls basketball title the team's best performance of the season?
Not so, argued senior Skyler Knight.
"Definitely don't think it was our best defensive game," said Knight, who had a game-high 18 points. "We strive to have our best defense every game. This game decided whether we were league champs or not, so that turned it up a notch."
Oxnard, which had averaged 73 points in the five game-winning streak leading up to Thursday's game, was limited to 22 points in the first 26 minutes. The Yellowjackets (22-6, 11-3) were trying to earn a piece of the league title, but finished in third place behind co-champs Ventura (24-4, 12-2) and Buena (21-5, 12-2). All three teams advanced to the CIF-Southern Section playoffs, with the pairings set to be announced Sunday.
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Buena, which beat Ventura 53-49 on Tuesday, earned a 68-56 win at Dos Pueblos on Thursday night to secure its piece of the Channel League title for its first league crown since 2011. Karisma Lewis had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Skye Thomas had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Mimi Moon finished with 16 points and nine assists for the Bulldogs.
The title was the Ventura program's 21st. Seventeen titles have come during coach Ann Larson's 24-year tenure.
"It was outstanding defense," said Larson. "The kids bought into knowing (Oxnard's) personnel, knowing who to guard and their tendencies. They talked to each other about it and absorbed it."
Knight helped set the tone on both ends of the court.
Early in the first quarter, Knight had two steals — scoring both times — and hit a 3-pointer during a 7-2 run that gave Ventura a 9-4 run.
Kai Staniland, who finished with 16 points and four assists, closed out the quarter by scoring on consecutive possessions to push Ventura's margin to 15-9. Knight hit two 3-pointers and a pair of free throws early in the second quarter as Ventura led 27-13.
By halftime, Oxnard had been limited to four field goals and trailed 33-17. A 14-0 run to end the third quarter found Ventura ahead 47-22.
"We opened the door and Ventura took off," said Oxnard coach Dave Guenther. "There were a lot of unforced things that we don't normally do."
Mikayla Oliver scored 15 points points and Sienna Angell and Kayla Lumas each had 10 points for the Yellowjackets.
Oxnard scored 18 of the game's last 22 points.
With postseason just around the corner, this game checked off all of Larson's boxes.
"Kai handled a lot of pressure and everybody knew that she would need help," Larson said. "After the first quarter, we rebounded like crazy. We got the ball past half court quickly."
For Oxnard, this was the type of game it needed for the playoffs.
"This is what the playoffs are like," Guenther said. "It was a playoff atmosphere against a playoff team. They were very physical. We didn't see many good looks."
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura beats Oxnard to earn share of Channel League title with Buena
