Buena Answers Challenge, Beats Ventura in Final, 62-57

VENTURA —  After blowing out three opponents in pool play of its own tournament, the Buena High girls’ basketball team expected a challenge from cross-town rival Ventura in the championship game.

Only this was a little too close for comfort.

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 1 in the region by The Times, had to overcome a three-point deficit in the fourth quarter before bouncing back for a 62-57 victory Saturday night over the Cougars in the Buena tournament final at Buena.

It was the first time the Bulldogs (4-0) have trailed in the second half this season and forward Kelly Greathouse said it was an unusual feeling.

“They scared us a little,” Greathouse said. “It made us feel like we could get beat, so we knew we had to pick it up.”

The Cougars (2-2), ranked No. 3 in the region, led, 46-43, after three quarters and went ahead, 52-50, on a layup by reserve Betsy Sellers with 4:55 remaining.

That’s when Greathouse and freshman center Courtney LaVere took over inside for Buena.

LaVere scored eight points in the final 5:17 and Greathouse made three crucial free throws.

Greathouse, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, and LaVere each finished with 19 points. Greathouse was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

After the game, it was Greathouse who was dishing out compliments.

“They’re a good team,” she said. “They’re well-coached and I think they do a lot of things really well.”

After his team dropped a 69-60 decision to Alemany in pool play the previous night, Coach Glenn Gray of Ventura wasn’t particularly looking for a moral victory against Buena.

All the same, he was happy with the manner in which his team responded.

“I was happy that we bounced back from last night,” Gray said. “We ran into a hot team and we got beat. But we held up well on Buena’s home court and that has to help us down the road.”

Ventura was led by guards Alex Gientke with 19 points and Julie Essary with 12 and center Kristine Gleisberg with 10.

Alemany 56, Hart 49--After an impressive victory over Ventura on Friday night, Alemany started off sluggishly in the third-place game against Hart.

But Alemany (4-1), which trailed most of the first half, outscored Hart, 16-10, in the third quarter to take a 35-32 lead and didn’t trail again.

Leading the way were guard Kate Beckler and forward Karina Siam with 14 points each.

Siam had 10 of her points in the second half and Beckler had eight in the half. Beckler finished with five assists for Alemany, ranked No. 6 in the region.

Guard Tiana Jameson scored 18 points for Hart (3-3). Center Briana Kentfield added 11 points and guard Christina Sanchez had 10 for Hart.