Marina’s Smallest Player Comes Up Big in Victory

WESTMINSTER — The biggest player Tuesday night was the game’s smallest player, and the team with the storied tradition came up short for the first time this decade.

Marina, behind 5-foot-1 Natalie Nakase’s 18 points and spectacular passing, an oppressive defense and a 21-point run, defeated second-seeded Ventura Buena, 60-39, in the Southern Section Division I-A semifinals at Westminster High School.

The performance earned Marina (26-4) its first championship berth and ended Buena’s run of eight consecutive championship game appearances, which included three victories in the last four years. The Bulldogs (26-3) were playing in their 13th consecutive semifinal.

Marina will play at the Pyramid this weekend against San Clemente, a team it defeated, 77-68, on Jan. 3. The date and time will be announced today.

“It’s amazing to beat Thousand Oaks [in the second round] and Buena in the same year,” said eighth-year Marina Coach Pete Bonny, whose team lost to Thousand Oaks in two of its three previous semifinal appearances. “They’ve been dominant since before I was coaching.

“I’m kind of in awe of what we’ve done.”

Tuesday’s performance was awe-inspiring. Marina shot 48.7% from the field and ran off 21 points in a row to take command of the game, 27-9. They were only 2-for-9 shooting in the second quarter and extended their lead.

Defensively, the Vikings used their fullcourt pressure to annoy, frustrate and pester, and Buena never was able to develop any rhythm in its offensive game.

Through three quarters and trailing, 43-26, and with Marina’s starters on the bench, Buena’s Renae Hofmann (averaging 14.4 points per game) had five points, Kelly Greathouse (13.4) had nine and point guard Kelly Murray (14 in the playoffs) had four. Hofmann finished with 13 and Murray with six.

Greathouse, a 6-2 freshman, lost a battle inside to Chanda McLeod, a 5-11 junior. Greathouse finished with nine points and nine rebounds before fouling out with 5:17 left in the game and Marina in the process of taking a 21-point lead. McLeod had 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Despite a size disadvantage, Marina outrebounded Buena, 29-28.

McLeod scored eight during Marina’s 21-0 run. Nakase (six assists--had a three-point play to give Marina an 11-9 lead, and nifty assists on the next five baskets--including two three-pointers by Karyn Fierst (14 points)--as Marina took control.