MEN'S BASKETBALL: Playing from behind for the entire game, the Ventura College men's basketball team made a valiant comeback in the closing minutes, with Jalen Young driving the length of the court after a timeout with six seconds remaining to hit a layup and force overtime. In the extra period, VC (7-9) could not hold on to its early lead, eventually falling to the Owls 91-86 in their final non-conference action of the season. Young and Ivan Dooley each netted 20 points for Ventura and Vondel Faniel added 11 points to the effort.
Citrus came out strong, scoring the game's first six points, eventually taking a 20-8 advantage. With 11:07 remaining in the first half. The Pirates cut the lead to 38-34 on Dooley's 3-pointer with :57 left in the period, and Ventura had the ball with the ability to pull to within one possession. A Pirates turnover and a 3-point bucket by Citrus marked a 5-point turnaround, however, and VC trailed 41-34 at the break.
In the second half, the Pirates kept up the battle. Citrus got off to a strong start, scoring the first five points of the period in the opening minute before Rodney Bryant hit a trey to stop the run. Ventura closed to within 60-56 on Jon McMurry's bucket at the 9:39 mark, and maintained a six-point deficit with a pair of free throw by Dooley at the 5:42 mark. Another McMurray field goal in the paint brought Ventura to within 75-74 with 35.4 seconds remaining. After a Pirate foul, Citrus was able to extend the lead back to three points at the 22 second mark before Young hit a runner to make it a 77-76 game with 7.1 on the clock. Citrus missed one of two free throws on following the next VC foul, setting up Young's heroics in the final six seconds.
The the extra period, the Pirates opened up an 84-81 lead on three straight field goals from Young, and had possession of the ball to go up by two scores, but a missed shot and an Owl 3-pointer tied the game at 84-84. A strong effort inside by Anthony Morman gave Ventura an 86-84 lead at the 2:29 mark, but VC would not score again, giving up the final seven points of the contest, including the final five at the free throw line.
The Pirates begin defense of their Western State Conference title with a tough road trip to Cuesta College on Wednesday Jan. 8. Tip off in San Luis Obispo begins at 7:00 pm following the VC women at 5:00 pm.