Dayveon Bates was everywhere Friday night, scoring 19 points and pulling down 19 rebounds in the Pirates' 66-45 victory over Shasta on the first day of the College of the Sequoias Wyndham Classic in Visalia. Thomas Dangerfield almost posted a double-double with 12 points and nine boards while Timothy Turner netted 11 points and six assists for Ventura (7-4) in their fourth straight victory.
The Pirates held the lead throughout the game, opening up a lead of 6-0 on a bucket by Tone Patton and two scores from Bates. After a score by Shasta, Bates and Lamont Landers answered for a 10-2 Pirate lead four minutes into the game. Midway through the half, VC led 14-11 when they went on a 15-2 run to break the game open. Turner got the run started with a free throw with 10:17 on the clock, and Bates followed with an offensive rebound and putback. Turner netted two charity tosses to answer a score by the Knights and Keron Bailey followed with a steal and a dunk. Elijah McCloud then had back-to-back buckets, and Turner and Bailey finished the run. VC led 29-13 with 3:49 left, and took a 33-22 advantage into halftime.
Shasta made a game of it in the second half. After Dangerfield hit a three to begin the period, The Knights scored seven of the next nine points to pull to within 38-29 at the 16:15 mark. Dangerfield and Jelani Bell countered with consecutive shots from range to quell the threat, but Shasta kept the heat coming. Shasta cut the deficit to eight, 51-43, with 7:21 left to play, but that was as close as they got. The Pirates then went on a decisive 13-0 run over the next four minutes of game time to put the game away. Turner closed the run with an offensive rebounds and score to make it 64-43 with 3:40 remaining, and Ventura closed wit the 66-45 victory.
Bailey ended the night with six points, nine rebounds and four assists while Bell also netted six with four boards for the Pirates.
Ventura will take on tournament host College of the Sequoias on Saturday Dec. 15 at 7:00 pm before closing the trip against Fresno City College on Sunday Dec. 16 at noon.