The Pirates' men's basketball team overmatched visiting Santa Barbara in their 85-55 victory Saturday at the Athletic Event Center. All 11 Pirates who played scored at least three points in the contest, led by Adrian McIntyre's 19. Kai Johnson came off the bench to score 16 with a team-best seven rebounds and Tony Njia scored 10 points. Landreau Tate and Marcus Watson each handed out three assists in the win for Ventura (21-6, 9-2).
Ventura was in control from the beginning, jumping out to a 10-0 lead in the game's first three minutes. Daniel Crocker scored an old-fashioned 3-point play before McIntyre sandwiched a pair of lay-ups around a 3-pointer for the double-digit advantage. The Vaqueros pulled back to within 12-7 three minutes later before VC went on another run, this one 9-1 over two-plus minutes of game time. Johnson scored inside before Anthony Garza rocked the gym with a pair of dunks. After an SBCC free throw, Johnson nailed a three for the 21-8 margin with 11:20 on the clock. McIntyre's 3-point play with 6:20 remaining in the half made it 28-14, then Njia hit a pair of free shots and Watson scored at the hoop for the 41-21 halftime edge.
VC erased any hopes of a Vaquero comeback in the opening minutes of the second half. McIntyre and Watson began the period with back-to-back dunks, and Aaron Dawoodjee hit from range for three. Watson scored a free throw before Garza hit a jumper and Crocker made a lay-up for a 53-21 margin wit 15:48 left to play. The Pirates continued to keep their foot on the gas with Johnson, Njia and Max Kadlec all hitting from beyond the arc. Johnson then hit a pair of charity tosses for a 78-40 lead at the 4:19 mark. Michael Noulowe had a dunk and a three late, and Johnson's offensive rebound and putback set the final 85-55 margin.
Garza finished with eight points and five rebounds in the balanced team effort while Kadlec hit a pair of 3-pointers. Crocker pulled in six boards.
The Pirates clinched at least a share of their seventh straight Western State Conference North Division championship with the win. They can capture the outright title on Friday Feb. 17 at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria.