Mounties Falls Short in Seventh State Title Bid, Loses to Ventura 68-55

CERRITOS – There will be no three-peat for the Mt. SAC women’s basketball team as the two-time defending champs fell to the Ventura Pirates 66-58 Sunday afternoon in the CCCAA state championship game.

It was the Pirates’ ninth and the Mounties’ eighth championship game appearance, and both teams have won six state titles each. Both teams were looking to make history by claiming its seventh state title.

Mt. SAC is 6-2 in championship games, with both losses coming at the hands of the Pirates.

In Sunday’s game, Mt. SAC couldn’t get anything going, though holding the high octane Ventura offense to six free throws the first five minutes of the game.  Mt. SAC shot a dismal 6 of 33 for 18% building a 36-13 halftime deficit which they couldn’t recover from.

“We couldn’t get the ball into the basket,” Mounties’ head coach Brian Crichlow said, “we kept the #1 team in offense in check, but we kept sending them to the free throw line.”

Sophomore guard Shaela Flynn and one of only two returning members from last season’s championship team led the way for Mt. SAC with 14 points, three assists and three steals.   Sashanique Youngblood added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Cheyanne Wayne-King pitched in six points, six rebounds and three steals in the loss.

Mt Sac shot better in the second half, going 15 of 33, and they were able to bring the game as close to 12 points, but whenever Mt. SAC made a run, Ventura answered with a run of its own to maintain its gap.

 “Every time we made a run, and came back, we’d foul on defense,” Crichlow said. “We were a little over-anxious or too excited to get back in the game. You dig yourself a hole, and against a good team like Ventura, it’s tough to come back.”

Adrianne Sloboh led the way for the Pirates who finished 32-3 with 27 points and 19 rebounds, while Lisa Marie Hernandez added 22 points, six rebounds and five assists.  Brooke Dixon chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds.

“I’m proud of this group,” Crichlow said . “They battled and competed all year long. I told them after, ‘Don’t hang your heads. You had a fantastic season, and this was the year when they said Mt. SAC would be down and you were in the championship.’

Mt. SAC finished 29-5

BOX SCORES

VENTURA COLLEGE (68) – Adrienne Sloboh (27), Lisa Marie Hernandez (22),  Brooke Dixon (14),  Cynthia Hernandez (5)

MT. SAC (55) – Shaela Flynn (14), Sashanique Youngblood (13), Cheyanne Wayne-King (6),  Johnea Thompson (5),  Tatyana Calhoun (4),  Sabrina Norton (4),  Joi Mitchell (3),  LaShanique Youngblood (2),  Tahniya Sweatt (2), Bree Makai (2)