Lady Golden Eagles keep pace with Ventura College before falling 56-34 in local college basketball action

As it is, the Pirates, who only recently scheduled Friday night’s game, managed to defeat the pesky Eagles. Word has it that  Ventura scheduled Friday’s game ostensibly in preparation for the state’s community college championships, scheduled for Lemoore on March 12, 14, and 15.

Their near-perfect free-throw shooting helped the Golden Eagles. The Lady Eagles converted 15 of 18 free throws on the night as they managed to stay within striking distance until the Pirates finally pulled away in the fourth period, outscoring West Hills 34-18.

Leading the Ventura charge were Talia Taufaasau with 16 points and Cece Quintino, with 15. For the Lady Eagles, Luzelena Parks and Alejandro Fernandez shared high scoring honors with 10 points each. Nicole Mercado had a pair of three-point baskets and finished with six points on the night.

The Golden Eagles gave the Pirates just about all they could handle, holding the visitors to only 22 first-half points. The Eagles, showing their accuracy at the free-throw line, kept it close in the first half, and trailed just 22-16 at the half.

The Golden Eagles kept it close in the third period as Mercado’s three-pointer at the 5:14 mark cut the gap to just three points at 23-26 before Ventura went on a run and led 39-25 at the end of the quarter. After Savana Floyd sank a pair of free throws in the final period to close the gap to 34-45, the Pirates went on a tear, scoring the next 11 points to finish off the Lady Eagles.

West Hills, 4-12 on the year, next action comes at Reedley on Jan. 8 at 5 p.m.