Head Coach Joey Ramirez matched up against his former coach at Ventura College Phil Mathews and got the best of his mentor with an 88-84 overtime victory. Ventura saw four players score in double digits with Elijah Brown fronting the way with 24 points. Two Pirates scored in double digits off the bench with Jalon Wilson putting in 11 points and Vida Faniel adding 12 points.
For the second time in his coacing career the former player met up with his coaching mentor and the game was back forth and was not able to be decided in regulation time. The Pirates (10-6) came out slow in the first half falling down 17-7 at the 14:00 minute mark, but with a 10-4 run capped off by a Cordel Hankerson lay up VC pulled within 21-17. This was the closest the Pirates were able to get in the first half though as Riverside was able to pull away during the final 14 minutes of play getting as much as a 16 point differential between the two teams. VC though ran off the final five points of the first half to get within 11 at 38-27 after the first 20 minutes of play. Ventura struggled mightly from the field in the first half with just 28% shooting total and just 8% from beyond the 3-point arc putting themselves at a major disadvantage for the final 20 minutes of play.
Coach Ramirez and the Pirate staff used the halftime break to make some adjustments and motivate the Pirate players and they came out firing in the second half. Down 11 to start the half Ventura outscored RCC 24 to 14 to start the half to get within 52-51 at the 9:11 mark the Pirates took their first lead of the game when Wilson hit on 1-2 free throws for a 57-56 advantage. RCC was able to get back to a five point advantage with just 1:17 to go, but Wilson hit a 3-pointer at the :57 mark to get within two. After a defensive stop Brown drew a foul on Riverside and hit on both free throws to tie the game at 70-70. RCC had the ball and the final shot with just :25 to go, but when their late 3-point attempt was missed and the game was headed to overtime. Ventura outscored RCC 43-32 in the second half with Jamal Lewis pouring in 19 points to top the Pirates for the half and give them the extra time to attempt to complete the comeback.
A wild first 40 minutes of play was sure to get crazier in the extra time and the two teams did not disappoint. VC and Riverside played to seven lead changes in overtime with the biggest differential being the final four point separation. Faniel and Brown dominated the Pirate offensive attack to help the Pirates and coach Ramirez down the former Pirate head coach Matthews 88-84. The win was the third straight for Ramirez over Mathews.
Lewis finished the game with 19 total points and four rebounds. Faniel pulled down a team high nine rebounds coming up one short of a double-double. Brown added three assists and a steal to his team high point total. Wilson dished out four assists, pulled down four rebounds, had a steal and a block in the victory. Ventura as a team won the rebound battle with 39 total rebounds and forced 14 turnovers in the game to help complete the double digit comeback.
Ventura wraps up their non-conference schedule as the get ready to enter Western State Conference North play after the new year. The Pirates will open up with a 7:00 pm home game against the Cuesta Cougars on Wednesday Jan. 6 at the Ventura College Athletic Event Center.