Ventura Wears Out Merritt

IRVINE — As if Ned Mircetic, the Ventura College women’s basketball coach, needed more idle time to worry.

A mix-up by Merritt, which brought the wrong-colored uniforms, delayed by about 30 minutes the start of Ventura’s quarterfinal game Thursday night in the state tournament at Concordia University.

Merritt borrowed purple road jerseys from San Jose, the defending state champion, but Ventura wasn’t impressed, defeating the Thunderbirds, 60-43, and soothing Mircetic’s nerves.

“I feel much better now,” Mircetic said. “I thought we played with a lot of intensity. . . . I thought we played with purpose.”

Ventura (31-3) faces College of Siskiyous (27-4) tonight at 8 in a semifinal at Concordia. Siskiyous advanced with 77-33 rout of Santa Barbara.

Ventura controlled the pace virtually from the start, holding Merritt without a basket during a 14:26 stretch in the first half to take a 20-13 lead.

The Pirates’ relentless defense harassed Merritt (28-7), with players often stepping into passing lanes for easy steals.

Ventura held Myesha Jones, a 6-foot-4 center, to six points.

“We tried to collapse on her and cover that weakside post, and we missed a couple [assignments],” Mircetic said. “But for the most part, our defense was excellent.”

Guard Renae Hofmann sparked the Pirates with 13 points and reserve forward Jackie Rhetta scored 10.

In another quarterfinal:

Sierra 81, Valley 69--It took four minutes for the Monarchs to see their state title hopes disappear.

Sierra (34-1), the state’s top-ranked team, eliminated the Monarchs (23-14) on the strength of a 14-0 run to start the game.

“That’s kind of been our whole season, those first few minutes,” Coach John Taylor of Valley said.

Valley trailed by 21 points twice--55-34 and 57-36--in the second half.

Sierra made 32 of 57 shots (56.1%). Valley made 24 of 72 shots (33.3%).

Andi Pruitt scored 29 points for Sierra. Maricela Rodriguez scored 16 points for Valley.