Behind Dayshone Henry's double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, the VC men's basketball team defeated MiraCosta 85-75 Friday evening in the Gregg Anderson Memorial Tournament at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster. Shulton Tobin netted 12 points, Donavan Williams and Thomas Dangerfield each had 11, and Timothy Turner scored 10 points in the balanced team effort by the Pirates (5-4).
The game was tied 15-15 midway through the first half when Dangerfield sandwiched two free throws and a lay-up around a bucket by Donavan to take the lead for good. Henry made a bunny to give VC a 23-17 lead, and Dangerfield's score preserved the margin at 25-19 at the 6:42 mark. After the Spartans hit a free thow with 3:45 on the clock, closing to within 27-23, the Pirates used a 13-5 run to take control by halftime. Henry hot a pair of free shots around a lay-up by Tone Patton, and Davion Washington and Patton followed with easy buckets. After a three and a two from MCC, Henry scored inside and Donavan hit a three to close the period. VC led 40-28 at halftime.
Turner, Henry and Donavan all scored to start the second half, stretching the Ventura advantage to 18, 46-28. MiraCosta closed to within seven points, 51-44, at the 14:11 mark, but Patton and Turner each had scores to move the margin back to double figures. Dangerfield hit from range and Henry connected for an old-fashioned 3-point play to make it 61-44 midway through the stanza. Turner's two free throws stretched the lead to 20, 67-47, with 8:33 remaining, and Dayveon Bates' jumper stretched the advantage to 25 points a minute later. Bates' dunk maintained the 22-point cushion, 85-63 with 2:23 left to play before MCC closed the game on a mostly inconsequential 12-0 run. VC posted an 85-75 victory.
Turner added four assists and four steals to his stat line and Bates added eight points, six rebounds and four dimes. Tobin also handed out four helpers and Washington pulled in seven rebounds.
Ventura will next take on tournament host Antelope Valley on Saturday Dec. 7 at 7:00 pm in the bracket semifinal.