Ventura's Caleb Gilbert netted a game-high 26 points with 10 rebounds and a pair of blocked shots to lead the Pirates' men's basketball team to a 91-72 victory over Oxnard to open their Western State Conference North Division schedule Wednesday at the Athletic Event Center. Vernon Henry and Caleb Geisendorfer each added 14 points to the effort as VC (8-9, 1-0) won its third consecutive game. Reese Widerburg scored 11 points in the victory.
A steal and assist by Landreau Tate to a Widerburg three opened the game for Ventura, and Widerburg followed with two more long range bombs for an early 9-2 lead for the Pirates.Dominik Contreras nailed a triple from the right corner, Tate hit a jumper and Gilbert scored inside as VC stretched the advantage to 17-4 with 13:20 remaining in the first half. Caleb Geisendorfer had an offensive rebound and putback, Gilbert scored on a dunk and Geisendorfer scored a lay-up as VC moved ahead 25-10 midway through the period.
Geisendorfer's two charity shots gave VC a 17-point margin, 29-12, before the Condors scored nine of the next 11 points to close the gap to 31-21 with 3:53 on the clock. Oxnard continued the comeback through the end of the opening period, closing to within 36-32 at halftime.
The Condors closed to within 38-36 early in the second half before Gilbert nailed a three followed by consecutive lay-ups by Tate and Henry. Tate's steal led to another easy score by Henry and Gilbert hit another jumper to extend the Pirate advantage back to double figures, 49-39, with 17:07 left to play. OC got back to within seven points, 58-51, with 13:16 remaining, but Ventura answered with a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to reassert control. Gilbert assisted a deuce by Carter Alexander, then scored two on a dunk off a pass from Henry. Gilbert scored another easy two and Alexander hit for three to make it 67-51 with 11:04 on the clock.
Tate made a pair of free throws to extend the VC lead to 21 points, 79-58, with 7:34 on the clock, and the margin remained for the remainder of the contest.
Contreras pulled in eight boards and scored seven points for Ventura and Tate added seven points with four assists and four steals. Henry also dropped four dimes in the contest and Beckham Rutherford handed out three helpers.
VC continues WSC North play on Saturday Jan. 13 in San Luis Obispo against Cuesta. Tip-off with the Cougars is slated for 3:00 pm.