Ventura High was tougher the second time around.

Using a tight defense that allowed little breathing room, Ventura opened the CIF-Southern Section Division I-AA girls' basketball playoffs Saturday night with a 50-25 home win over Thousand Oaks.

It marked the 20th time Ventura (25-2) has held an opponent to under 34 points.

Thousand Oaks (15-12), which tied for third place in the Marmonte League, shot just 17 percent from the field and had only one field goal over a 19-minute stretch.

"They're every bit as good as their record indicates," said Thousand Oaks coach Rick Cromwell of Ventura.

Ventura defeated Thousand Oaks, 63-45, in the Ventura Optimist Tournament in December.

"It was definitely tougher this time. Ventura came into this game with a lot at stake and played like it," said Cromwell.

Tougher for both programs. Thirty-eight fouls were whistled.

"Thousand Oaks has a lot of pride and athleticism," said Ventura coach Ann Larson. "They took both of those to heart."

Victoria Brubaker had nine points, while Olivia Soule and Amy Pupa added eight for Ventura. The Cougars made eight 3-point field goals.

Karina Alfatuli led Thousand Oaks with nine points.

The final two minutes of the first half proved to be Thousand Oaks' undoing.

In a tight second quarter that saw only three points — all free throws — scored in the first 9 minutes, the Lancers had a chance to pull close. Kelsey Swan's two free throws pulled Thousand Oaks to within 18-11 with 2:18 remaining.

On its next possession, Thousand Oaks missed two free throws.

Ventura surged with an 8-1 run to end the half as Brubaker hit two 3-pointers — one as time elapsed — and Maddie Fahan scored following an offensive rebound to extend the Cougars' margin to 26-14 at intermission.

"Those two 3-pointers at the end of the half were killers," said Cromwell. "One was from about 40 feet."

Ventura collected its thoughts and a few words from Larson in the locker room.

It paid off.

"We did a better job in the second half of rotating defensively and having contact with our man," Larson said.

Both teams rushed to close scoring opportunities inside and rushed for loose balls.

"We knew that Thousand Oaks would be physical inside," said Ventura forward Lacey Escamilla. "We never underestimated what they could do. Nothing was going to be given to us."

Foul troubles plagued Ventura, which was called for 12 in the first half and 11 in the second.

Thousand Oaks struggled from the field, making just 2 of 14 field goals and none in the last 13 minutes of the first half. And it fared only slightly better from the free-throw line, making 5 of 13 when the game was still close.

With three 3-point field goals in a two-minute stretch, Ventura jumped out to a 12-2 lead with 3:37 left in the first quarter.

A 6-0 run midway through the third quarter gave Ventura a 20-point margin. That eased the pain of having four players with three or more fouls by the end of the quarter.

With seven wins in its last 10 games, Thousand Oaks tied Moorpark for third place in the Marmonte League, the program's best finish in a decade.

While many may pause to reflect on a turnaround season for the Lancers' program, this is a time to look forward.

The future of Thousand Oaks girls' basketball looks healthy.

Its top four scorers were three sophomores and one junior. Injuries, especially one that cost returning all-Marmonte League player Kathleen Luft her season, did not derail the team.

"I am very happy with this team," said Crowell. "We'll be very good next year."