Ohara sets school record as Pirates claim SDCC Tourney title

SAN DIEGO -- Kyoka Ohara etched her name inside the Orange Coast College women's basketball record books on Saturday as the Pirates rolled past Southwestern College, 91-51, to win the San Diego City College Women's Basketball Tournament.

Ohara capped off three remarkable games with a season-high 37 points, including a school-record 11 3-pointers made, breaking the previous mark of 10 set by Crystal McCormick during the 2005-06 season. Her 37 points equaled the sixth-most for one game in OCC women's basketball history as well. The freshman standout from Japan was 12-of-28 from the floor, 11-of-22 from 3-point range and a perfect 2-for-2 from the foul line, leading the Pirates (5-1) to their first tournament title since claiming the College of the Sequoias tourney title back in 2016-17.

Karina Cabrera added 17 points, six rebounds and six assists, while Alexis Legan added 10 points to go along with six rebounds and six assists for the Pirates over the previously-unbeaten Jaguars (6-1). 

It was a dominating three games for the Pirates, whose average margin of victory was 45 points over this tournament.

Coast opened things with an 84-44 win over Cuyamaca on Thursday. After a sluggish start, OCC outscored Cuyamaca 53-19 over the middle two quarters and never looked back. Ohara led the way in Thursday's win with 25 points and five steals, while Cabrera added 14 points and nine points each from Legan and Madison Copeland.

The win pushed OCC to the tournament semifinals, where the Pirates clobbered Cuesta, 98-43. Coast blew out the Cougars early in this one, outscoring them 56-13 in the opening half. Legan dominated play with 30 points and 16 rebounds, while Cabrera was close behind with 28 points, four assists and six steals. Ohara added 14 points to go along with five rebounds, six assists and four steals. 

Coast will enjoy the Thanksgiving week off before returning to the Peterson Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 30 against Copper Mountain, beginning at 4:30 p.m.