Pirate sophomore Dayshone Henry took an offensive rebound and converted a score with 3.8 seconds remaining to give the VC men's basketball team a 72-71 victory over Los Angeles Valley College Friday night at the Athletic Event Center. VC came back from a 26-point deficit with 14:45 remaining in the game. Henry played all 40 minutes for Ventura (9-6) totaling 22 points with 15 rebounds. Donavan Williams had 16 points while Tone Patton had a double-double of 10 points and 12 boards. Jonathan Montesinos had 12 points in the win.
The Pirates got off to a fast start. Henry and Jermaine Jordan hit back-to-back buckets and Patton made a three for a 7-0 advantage. The Monarchs, who entered the game with an 11-1 record, soon came back, however, at took a 10-7 lead with 15:46 remaining in the first half. Darius Butler tied things up with a triple before LAVC scored the next seven points of the game. The Monarchs were ahead 21-13 at the 8:50 mark before Butler hit another shot from range to cut into the deficit. LA Valley continued to add to their lead, moving it to double-figures, 30-20 at the 6:11 mark, and they went ahead 42-24 with 1:39 on the clock. The Pirates trailed 44-26 at halftime.
LA Valley continued to build their advantage early in the second half, expanding it to 26 points, 58-32, with 14:45 left to play. Henry had a dunk off a Kingston Williams assist on the next possession, and followed that with a 3-pointer to begin the Ventura comeback. Donavan and Montesinos sandwiched a pair of three's around another score by Henry to cut the deficit to 58-45 with 9:54 on the clock, completing a 13-0 Pirate run.
The teams then traded scores until VC went on a 7-0 run culminating with 5:43 remaining. Montesinos hit another triple, then Henry had a dunk and a lay-up to make it 64-54 for the Monarchs. Donavan and Montesinos hit consecutive shots from range to cut the margin to 69-63 at the 2:23 mark, and Donavan answered an LAVC score with three made free throws with 1:23 left. He then converted a 4-point play on the next possession to pull VC to within one, 71-70 with 1:08 on the clock, setting up Henry's last-second heroics.
The Pirates conclude non-conference play on Saturday Jan. 4 at home against Canyons at 4:00 pm. VC opens Western STate COnference North Division play on Wednesday Jan. 8 at home against Santa Barbara.