Moorpark moves into CCCAA Championship semifinals with win over College of the Sequoias

CCCAA Basketball Championship Tournament Central
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VENTURA - The Moorpark College Raiders eliminated the Giants of the College of the Sequoias, 66-58, in the last women's quarterfinal of the 2019 CCCAA Women's Basketball Championships, in front of a large contingent of their fans who made the short 25-mile drive to Ventura College for the Elite Eight matchup. 

Moorpark had four players posting double digits in the points category, led by a commanding double double performance by Barbara Rangel, who had 21 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks in her start. Emily Herring, Breanna Calhoun, and Jazzy Carrasco were the other high scorers for Moorpark.

The opponents traded baskets for the first few minutes, each time Moorpark answering for Sequoias' points.  The Giants then scored on three consecutive possessions to pull ahead 12-6 midway through the opening frame, forcing the Raiders to call the first timeout.  Moorpark led by 7 with just under 9 minutes played before Breanna Calhoun hit a three and added a free throw later to cut the Giants' lead to 20-17 at the break.

Then in the second quarter, a duo of three pointers put Moorpark ahead by one, with Mia Moore following Jazzy Carrasco's swish to make it a 27-25 game.  After a scoreless two and a half minutes, Shae Sanchez tied the game up at 27 with a jumper at the 2:43 mark. A Janelle Sumilong three would tie the game again at 30 before Barbara Rangel pulled Moorpark ahead by two with a layup.  She had a game high 11 points at the half, and the Raiders took a 32-30 lead into the locker room.  Notably, Moorpark only committed two fouls in the first half, not providing a single free throw for the opposition.

Early in the third quarter, Sequoias quickly made Moorpark pay for two turnovers, with layups by Janelle Sumilong and Alaysia Reed nine seconds apart, giving the Giants a 36-34 lead.  The Raiders would battle back to finish the third with a 44-41 lead, aided in part by going a perfect 4 for 4 at the free throw line in the period.

The Raiders stayed on top for the rest of the game, only allowing the Giants to pull within two points of tying it.  Moorpark's disciplined play kept Sequoias away from the free throw line for the first 32 minutes of the game, but they ran into foul trouble in the waning minutes and ultimately gave up 9 points to the Giants from the charity stripe.

Janelle Sumilong scored 19 points, also grabbing eight rebounds and posting four assists for the underdogs, followed by Alaysia Reed with 13 points and Hailey Scott with 10.  Despite outscoring Moorpark 10-0 on fast break points, Moorpark's 34 points in the paint for Sequoias' 24 reflected their tendency to have to shoot from greater distance and with less success.

Moorpark faces Merced tomorrow in the semifinal round at 7 p.m.

(Brian Mellblom, CCCSIA)