Darrell Handy-Johnson had a monster game with 24 points on 12-15 shooting and seven rebounds to lead the VC men's basketball team to a 79-62 victory over visiting Santa Barbara Saturday night at the Athletic Event Center. The victory secures outright the Western State Conference North Division championship for the Pirates (21-8, 9-1), their third straight title and the 22nd overall for the program.Terrell Handy-Johnson had 14 points and Isiah Reyes netted 11 while Jacob Alonzo handed out seven assists for VC.
Ventura got off to a slow start and trailed the Vaqueros 11-9 with 12:38 remaining in the first half. Reyes took an assist from Taylor Sturgeon and turned it into a 3-point play to give the Pirates a 12-11 advantage, beginning a 19-6 run over the next eight minutes. Darrell H-J made a pair of inside shots followed by a Sturgeon lay-up and a Darrell H-J steal and slam dunk. Twin brother Terrell H-J made a jumper, John Williams connected on a lay-up and with two free throws, and Darrell H-J scored once again and VC led 28-17 with 5:23 left to play in the half. Williams hit two more charity shots a minute later for the Pirates' biggest lead of the half, 30-18, before SBCC pulled back to within 34-29 at the 1:47 mark. Ventura led at halftime 38-29.
The twin connection came through to start the second half as Terrell assisted VC's first bucket by Darrell. Terrell scored next before Darrell cashed in two dimes from Jacob Alonzo for a 46-30 Pirate advantage just two minutes into the period. Williams punctuated the 10-1 run with a breakaway dunk off a Terrell H-J steal and assist. The Vaqueros scored the next five points to pull back to within 13, but VC was able to keep them a safe distance away for the rest of the game. Reyes' lay-up at the 7:14 mark made it a 68-48 game and Dondre Watson's free throw with 4:16 remaining gave the Pirates their biggest lead of the game, 72-51. Ventura was safe the rest of the way, posting the 79-62 win.
Terrell H-J added five rebounds and four steals to his night's work while Alonzo grabbed three steals. Reyes dropped five dimes in the game.
The Pirates not await their playoff seeding. The brackets will be released on Monday afternoon, Feb. 19. First round games will begin on Wednesday Feb. 21 with regional quarterfinals being played on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23 and 24. Details will be available on www.VCweplayhard.com, as well as on Twitter @VCpiratesmbb and @VCAthletics.