The Ventura College Pirates were determined to get a taste test of a state final berth. The Pirates suffered their only loss last season in the State Tournament Semifinals, and made it apparent they were refusing to go down that same road, even if they managed to win by the skin of their teeth.
 
Pirates sophomore guard Erika Ward believed it was vital for not only the sophomores who experienced the dreadful defeat last season, but for the entire team to keep their season alive.
 
“I mean for the sophomores especially it’s a huge deal,” Ward said. “Being in this position last year and losing to Pasadena in the Final Four [State Semifinals], this year I think us sophomores know what it’s like to be here. We have great leadership, and were just eager.”
 
The Pirates eagerness paid off in a 60-56 nail-biter to the City College of San Francisco in Saturday afternoon’s State Tournament Semifinals at Cal Lutheran’s Gilbert Arena.
 
Despite leading by as many as 14 points in the early going, and holding the Rams (28-4) to a dismal 26 percent from the field, the Rams stormed back to get their first lead of the game at 53-52, after a 10-0 run.
 
Pirates point guard Amanda Padilla hit arguably the biggest free throws of her Pirates career to put the game out of reach with 5 seconds left at 60-56, and lock the Pirates (33-1) a trip to their first State Final since 2002.
 
Padilla simply put it how she felt after the win: “Amazing.”
 
“I mean, I’m so excited,” she said. “It felt like we just won the championship but we didn’t win the championship.”
 
Ward did not hesitate to commend a Rams team that did not quit the entire game, and similar to Laney College in the Quarterfinals, gave the Pirates a run for their money.
 
“I give all the credit in the world to San Francisco [Rams],” she said. “They are a great basketball team. They gave us a game.”
 
Ward also believed that key plays defensively helped the Pirates secure the victory.
 
“We stood strong [and] played some tough defense,” she said. “I thought we got some key steals.”
 
The Pirates will play for all the pride and glory in the State Final against Fullerton College on Sunday, March 14 at 1 p.m. at Gilbert Arena, as they look to add another championship banner to the Ventura Athletic Center.
 
Padilla hopes to end her Pirates career with a state championship, and maintain a legacy under head coach Ned Mircetic’s tenure.
 
“Hopefully this season will end our way, and we’ll take it [championship] down the grade to Ventura.”