The Pirates' men's basketball team finished the regular season on a high note with a 66-62 upset win over state No. 11-ranked Allan Hancock at the Athletic Event Center. Caleb Gilbert led five players in double figures with 12 points to go along with five steals and four blocked shots. With the victory, VC (15-13, 8-4) cemented its third place standing in the Western State Conference North Division.
The Pirates controlled the tempo and kept the Bulldogs, who defeated VC 78-50 on Jan. 31, off balance all game long. an early score from Gilbert, two free throws from Widerburg and an inside bucket by Derrick Young gave Ventura a 6-1 lead four minutes into play. AHC came back with a 9-0 run, but the Pirates answered with a field goals by Reese Widerburg and Vernon Henry to knot the game at 10 midway through the first half.
Henry followed with one of two free throws and Widerburg cashed in a Gilbert assist for three for a 14-10 advantage at the 8:11 mark. Hancock battled back to tie the game two minutes later before the game went back and forth until halftime. Dominik Contreras nailed a three off of Henry's pass and the Bulldogs answered with a deuce and VC led 30-29 at the break.
AHC appeared to take control after intermission, opening with an 11-0 run. However, a timeout by Ventura righted the ship somewhat, and Gilbert hit a free throw on the next possession to end the skid. Landreau Tate made two foul shots, then Hancock scored a deuce for a 45-35 Pirate deficit with 14:46 left to play. Carter Alexander made a pair of jumpers and Gilbert hit for three from a Henry pass and VC closed to within 47-42 two minutes later. The Bulldogs reestablished a 10-point advantage with five straight, however, and led 52-42 at the mid-point of the second half.
Henry made a pair of free throws on the next possession to begin a 12-0 run that would bring victory to Ventura back in the game. Young followed with an offensive rebound and putback, then Tate had a steal and score to bring VC to within 52-48. The Bulldogs led 60-54 with 3:36 remaining when Tate and Widerburg sank back-to-back three's to pull the Pirates even at 60-60 a minute later. Tate followed with a tip-in from the offensive boards and Gilbert's block on defense turned into Gilbert's dunk on the fast break for a 64-60 VC edge with 25 seconds remaining. A pair of free shots by Tate sealed the deal in the 66-62 VC triumph.
Henry and Tate each finished the game with 11 points while Alexander and Widerburg each scored 10. Henry, Young and Tate all collected four rebounds each and Henry handed out three assists.
The Pirates finished dthe season at 15-13 overall and 8-4 in WSC North Division play, good for a third place finish.