By MIKE TRAPHAGEN
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Santa Ynez keeps its perfect record with 48-34 victory
A swarming Santa Ynez High defense suppressed Orange Lutheran's attack throughout a physical girls basketball battle in the Tournament of Champions Green Division semifinals Thursday at the Thunderhut.
The Lancers were held to 4-of-28 shooting from the field in the first half and finished with 18 turnovers as the Pirates kept their perfect record in tact with a 48-34 win. They face Oaks Christian for the division title at 5:45 p.m. today at Santa Barbara High.
San Clemente, which ousted Buena 47-41 Thursday, will take on Sacramento for the Gold Division title at 7:30 p.m. today following the Green Division final.
Santa Ynez (7-0) held Orange Lutheran to 12 first-half points, but the Lancers also boasted a fierce defense, which caused the Pirates to commit 13 turnovers in the first half.
"It was a really physical game, but the last two games we've played have been like that," Pirates guard Ariana Gnekow said. "Tonight, it was so physical that the refs weren't going to call everything, but we stepped up and played physical, too."
The Pirates were granted 14 trips to the free-throw line in the first half and took a 22-12 lead into halftime. They finished 18-of-32 shooting from the foul line while Orange Lutheran, which was whistled for 22 infractions, made just 7-of-12 foul shots.
"I think our pressure wore them out," Pirates coach JoAnn Reck said. "At the end of the game, they were tired and just hucking the ball up there. They played hard and had nothing left.
"When we scouted them, we saw them getting a ton of open shots. We made a point of putting pressure on them and not letting them have the shots."
Lancers coach Tony Matson said his team's 21- and 17-point victories earlier in the tournament may have hurt his young squad.
"We came in a little soft and maybe a little full of ourselves because of our other two wins," he said. "Our youth hurt us tonight. We haven't played a lot of games under stress, but I was proud of our effort."
The Lancers forced turnovers throughout the second half, but they struggled to capitalize. They shot 4-of-16 from the field in the third quarter and made 5-of-15 attempts in the fourth. "We started running up and down the floor, and that's not our style of play," Matson said. "I don't have one kid on my team with more than one year of experience on varsity. We're young, and we showed it."
The Lancers cut their deficit to 27-19 on a steal and layup by Tejah Snell at the 1:38 mark in the third quarter. Christine Martin hit a free throw and Ariana Gnekow, who finished 8-of-10 from the foul line, drained two more to take an 11-point advantage with 25 seconds left in the quarter.
Orange Lutheran answered with a jumper by Meagan Bright with 12 seconds left, but Erin Gnekow nailed a bank-shot 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving Santa Ynez a 33-21 lead.
"That's so Erin," Reck said. "If anyone is going to hit a shot like that, it's her."
The Pirates made just 7-of-12 foul shots in the fourth, but it was enough to hold off the Lancers.
Ariana Gnekow finished with a game-high 15 points, 12 rebounds and five steals. Demery, Erin Gnekow and Reck posted eight points apiece.
Orange Lutheran finished with 22 percent (13-of-59) shooting from the field. The Lancers' leading scorers were Karen Carney and Skye Atchley, who tallied seven points apiece.
"It was physical, and we were kind of scared in the beginning, but we stuck with our defense," Ariana Gnekow said. "Our all-around defense is getting better all the time."
STEVE MALONE/NEWS-PRESS
Santa Ynez's Ariana Demery drives to the basket during the Pirates' Green Division semifinal victory.
