The VC men's basketball team completed the Riverside Tournament with an 81-56 victory over Mt. San Jacinto on Saturday. Kai Johnson led the way with 23 points and six rebounds and Marcus Watson netted 20 points with seven boards and three assists. Adrian McIntyre also hit double-figures with 14 points along with seven caroms and five dimes while Aaron Dawoodjee scored nine in the triumph for Ventura (10-4).
Watson made one of two free throws and Dawoodjee hit a three to put the Pirates ahead for good 6-2 early in the first half. After the Eagles closed to within 8-7, Dawoodjee hit another shot from range with 16:42 on the clock to extend the margin before Ventura answered a MSJC bucket with a 12-2 run over four minutes to establish control. Michael Noulowe scored inside before a McIntyre blocked shot on defense led to Watson's fast break lay-up. McIntyre added an offensive rebound and putback on the next possession followed by a lay-up from Watson's assist. Watson countered a Mt. San Jacinto score with a drive and lay-up and McIntyre closed the run with another close make for VC for a 23-11 advantage.
Johnson got things going after the mid-point of the half, hitting a three to end a three minute scoreless skid for Ventura, making it 31-18 at the 6:28 mark. Watson's and-one and Noulowe's jumper extended the lead to 36-20 and Johnson maintained the advantage with four straight points. Dawoodjee's third three of the half in the closing seconds gave VC a 47-30 halftime lead.
The Pirates continued to extend the lead in the second half, including Watson's steal and assist to McIntyre's dunk at the 16:22 mark. Johnson followed that up with three straight field goals and Watson's back-to-back scored extended the margin to 20, 63-43, with 12:28 remaining in the game. Tony Njia made a lay-up to move the advantage to 21, 67-46, and Anthony Garza maintained the edge with a bucket with 4:09 on the clock. Njia assisted a Johnson three and McIntyre fed Johnson for a lay-up to grow the lead to 25, 77-52, at the 2:04 mark as Ventura completed the 81-56 win.
VC shot 54 percent from the floor for the game, 34-63, and hit seven of 17 3-point attempts (41 percent). They dominated the boards over the Eagles, 43-30, and limited themselves to 10 turnovers for the game.
The Pirates next travel to Los Angeles Valley on Wednesday Dec. 14 for a 7:00 pm date with the Monarchs.