The women’s basketball team lost a playoff heartbreaker at Ventura College on Feb. 25. Coming off of a last-second, miracle win over Antelope Valley just days before, the Lancers were unable to continue their Cinderella playoff story, coming up just short, losing 55-50 to the highly favored Pirates.
“I’m saddened that we lost,” said Head Coach Joe Peron. “But I’m happy with the effort we gave.”
The first half saw a stagnant Lancer offense unable to convert points in the paint; missing easy baskets from point-blank range. The team shot an abysmal 24 percent from the field but managed to put up four three-pointers, keeping them within striking-distance.
Coach Peron commented on his team’s poor shooting performance: “We can get to the paint when we want; we just need to quit settling for jump shots,” he said.
Game-winning hero from the previous playoff game, Stella Ghazarian, sunk another buzzer-beating three, this time in the waning seconds of the first half, quieting the rowdy home crowd and foreshadowing events to come. At the half, the score was 27-24, Pirates.
The second-half saw a defensive workshop put on by both teams as baskets did not come easy and set the stage for another close game.
Lancer all-state guard Marquetta Stokes managed to make it to the free throw line five times, sinking 7-10 freebies and keeping the Lancers in the game. Stokes, who recorded 15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a block, was PCCs best player, but was not enough to overcome the stalwart defense of the Ventura Pirates.
“It’s really tough because I know we could have had them,” Stokes said.
Unlike the first half, the Lancers were unable to sink any threes, going 0-6 for the half.
Despite this, the game was tied, 50-50 with a minute left and the ball in the Lancers possession. The Lancers set screens and the ball wound up in clutch-shooter Ghazarian’s hands, looking to go 2-2 for miracle shots. With the playclock winding down Ghazarian heaved up a hail mary but the ball rimmed out and the Pirates secured the rebound. The Lancers playoff run was ended.
- EDITORIAL: Apologize about the real problem - April 23, 2014
- STATEMENT: District apologizes to Oscar winning alum - April 21, 2014
- EDITORIAL: The Forgotten Students - March 26, 2014
