The normally resilient Pirate men's basketball team had an off day Saturday afternoon, falling to College of the Sequoias on the final day of the COS Wyndham/Mannon Classic in Visalia. A day after suffering their first defeat of the season by a single point, Ventura (12-2) could not find its shooting touch in its defeat at the hands of the Giants. Adrian McIntyre led VC with 15 points while Donavan Williams and Kordell Gordon tallied nine and seven points, respectively.
VC missed ther first nine shots of the game, and by the time Anthony McIntyre scored on a putback at the 15:09 mark of the first half, Ventura was already down 11-2. Adrian Mc. hit three of four free throws over the next five minutes, but Anthony Mc.'s made jumper at the 10:11 mark was VC's next made field goal. The Pirates went another five minutes without scoring and when Jelani Bell scored after a steal by Michael Noulowe, the game was well in the Giants' hands. VC trailed 58-20 at halftime.
The Pirates came back after halftime and played Sequoias strong, outscoring the Giants 37-35. Williams and Gordon each accumulated their point totals after the intermission, bu the deficit was too great. VC fell by the 93-57 score.
Ventura will take some time off for the holidays, reconvening after Christmas to take on highly-ranked Fullerton on the road Dec. 30. The Pirates open Western State Conference play on Jan. 5 at Santa Barbara.