Vaqueros press Orange Coast into submission, 64-31

Fueled by a suffocating full-court press, SBCC jumped out to a 23-8 lead over Orange Coast on Saturday on the way to a 64-31 women's basketball victory on the final day of the Hancock Tournament.

The Vaqueros (7-3) doubled up the Pirates (1-5) in the first half, 38-19, and held them to eight points or less in three of four quarters. The Vaqueros limited OCC to 12 second-half points on 15.4% shooting (4-26).

Sophomore forward Sophia Torres led the Vaqueros with 14 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Alondra Jimenez, who played with Torres at Santa Barbara High, had 13 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Sierra Cavaletto contributed a season-high 12 points and three rebounds off the bench. Jordan Parkhurst and Jada Forsdick-Stevenson, former teammates at San Juan Hills in Dana Point, both had seven points and six rebounds. The Vaqueros won the board battle, 54-39.

Leading 8-7 in the opening quarter, Cavaletto hit a 3-pointer to ignite a 15-1 run that stretched into the second quarter and gave the Vaqueros a 15-point lead, 23-8.

They opened the third quarter on a 13-6 run, expanding the margin to 26 points (51-25) on a jumper and three free throws by Parkhurst.

The Vaqueros led by 29 entering the fourth period (56-27), then held the Pirates to four points in the final 10 minutes.

SBCC outshot Orange Coast 38.8 to 18.2% and made 10-14 free throws. The Vaqueros only committed 12 turnovers while forcing 21 that led to 20 points.

"We pressed in the first half and that kept us active," said coach Sandrine Krul. "We rotated players in quickly. What I learned this weekend is our team loves to press and that gets them active."

Tori Kelley, a 5-2 sophomore guard from Carpinteria High, made the first start of her two-year career.

"We started Tori instead of Jade [Jones] to get more active with the guards and take the pressure off of Alondra and Jordan and that helped a lot," said Krul.

SBCC will play two games in the Victor Valley Crossover, taking on Copper Mountain on Friday at 5 p.m. and Victor Valley on Saturday at 1 p.m.