The VC men's basketball team opened the game on a 10-0 run and never looked back in their 79-52 victory over Victor Valley in the championship game of the Gregg Anderson Memorial Tournament at Antelope Valley College. Marcus Watson scored 27 points with seven assists and Adrian McIntyre added 10 to lead Ventura (7-3). Tony Njia netted eight points while Michael Noulowe and Kordell Gordon pulled in six and five rebounds, respectively, in the balanced team effort.
McIntyre earned Tournament MVP honors while Watson, Anthony Garza and Gordon all received All-Tournament awards.
The game turned into a rout early. Njia scored the first bucket of the game off an assist by Kai Johnson and Garza hit a jumper from Njia. Noulowe and McIntyre hit back-to-back three's and the Pirates led by double-figures five minutes into play. The Rams pulled back within nine, 29-20, with 3:30 remaining in the first half before Watson scored three buckets and Johnson converted Watson dime into a made 3-pointer. McIntyre assisted a lay-up by Gordon with 20 seconds left and Ventura led VVC 40-22 at halftime.
Victor Valley tried to keep within reach of the Pirates, narrowing the VC lead to 13 points on three occasions, each dealt with by a key Ventura score. Watson nailed a shot from range at the 15:45 mark when VVC pulled to within 42-39 and Noulowe dropped a dime to Garza for a lay-up with 12:58 on the clock to extend a 48-35 Pirate margin. With 10:45 left, Njia hit a 3-pointer from a Watson pass to extend a 52-39 Ventura lead. Watson went on a personal 9-0 run top help the Pirates pull away, and McIntyre continued the run with a three for a 70-48. Daniel Crocker mad a pair of free throws and Demarion Owens hit a three to close the 17-4 Pirate streak, making it 75-48 with under two minutes remaining.
Garza, Noulowe and Gordon all added six points each and Owens scored five in the Pirate victory.
Ventura will next battle East Los Angeles on Wednesday Dec. 7 at the Riverside Tournament. Tip-off with the Huskies is scheduled for 2:00 pm.