2023-24 Ventura College Men's Basketball Team News
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VC Athletics 13th in California in NATYCAA Cup
August 12, 2024The Ventura College Athletic Department claimed its 14th Top-13 finish in 19 years, placing 13th in California in the 2023-24 all-sports National Association of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Cup standings. Pirate Athletics totaled 106 points overall, besting its 105.5 points earned in 2022-23 that placed 12th. Ventura was also 17th for the second straight year in the Daktronics Cup Standings with two-years schools from California, Oregon and Washington. -
VC Lists 70 transfers to 4-Year Schools
August 01, 2024The Ventura College Athletic Department is proud to announce the transfer of 71 student athletes to four-year schools following their time with the Pirates. 48 of those transfers plan to continue their sport with 34 earning athletic scholarships. The VC class of 2024 will transfer to 48 different schools in 19 different states across the country. Additionally, 17 of the Pirate alumni have earned academic scholarships at their new schools.
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VC Names Alumnus Derick Pugh '92 as Men's Basketball Head Coach
April 25, 2024Ventura College alumnus Derick Pugh '92 has been named the Pirates' head men's basketball coach for the 2024-25 season. He begins his second stint on the bench with the Pirates as he was an assistant coach on VC's state championship teams of 1995 and 1996, helping Ventura to a combined 73-3 record. Pugh brings 16-years of coaching experience to Ventura College.
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Gilbert, Widerburg and Alexander Earn All-WSC Accolades
March 18, 2024Three Pirates' men's basketball players earned All-Western State Conference honors in voting by the conference coaches following the 2023-24 regular season. Sophomores Caleb Gilbert and Carter Alexander along with freshman Reese Widerburg each were named first team All-WSC for their play in the conference season.
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VC Upsets Hancock in Season Finale
February 23, 2024The 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.
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Ventura Men Hold Off Santa Barbara
February 17, 2024The Pirates' men's basketball team held off Santa Barbara Saturday afternoon for a 50-41 victory at the SBCC Sports Pavilion. Vernon Henry was 9-10 at the free throw line and scored 13 points to lead Ventura (14-13, 7-4) and Caleb Gilbert contributed 10 points. Derrick Young had eight points and a team-best eight rebounds in the victory.
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Pirate Men Produce Big Win at Pierce
February 14, 2024The VC men's basketball team turned in a dominant performance, defeating Los Angeles PIerce 85-45 Wednesday in Woodland Hills. Caleb Gilbert led the effort for VC (13-13, 6-4) with 25 points and 15 rebounds while Reese Widerburg and Carter Alexander recorded 17 and 16 points, respectively. Beckham Rutherford came off the bench to score 10 points and Dominik Contreras grabbed seven boards in a reserve role.
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Pirate Men Drop Heartbreaker in Closing Seconds
February 10, 2024The VC men's basketball team battled back from a 10-point deficit in the final six minutes of play, only to see Moorpark sink a pair of free throws in the final seconds in the Pirates' 72-71 loss against the Raiders Saturday at the Athletic Event Center. Reese Widerburg netted 18 points to lead VC (12-13, 5-4) and Carter Alexander scored 15. Dominik Contreras, Landreau Tate and Caleb Gilbert all had key scores in the final minutes in the Pirate effort.
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Scoring Woes Cost Pirates Against Cuesta
February 07, 2024Less than a month after hanging 106 points on Cuesta in San Luis Obispo, the Pirates men's basketball team could not find their shooting touch at home, dropping a 67-54 decision to the Cougars Wednesday at the Athletic Event Center. Kai Johnson led VC with 13 points and Reese Widerburg netted 10 in the setback. Landreau Tate and Caleb Gilbert each pulled in seven rebounds for VC (12-12, 5-3).
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Men's Basketball Back on Track with WIn at Oxnard
February 03, 2024The Pirates' men's basketball team got back on track Saturday afternoon with an 81-68 victory at Oxnard. Reese Widerbrug scored 18 points with three assists to lead the way and Caleb Gilbert posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Carter Alexander added 14 points for Ventura (12-11, 5-2) as they began the final round of Western State Conference North Division play.
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Men's Basketball falls at Hancock
January 31, 2024The Pirates' men's basketball team had a difficult night Wednesday, falling to conference-leading Allan Hancock College 78-50 in Santa Maria. Caleb Geisendorfer came off the bench for 12 points and eight rebounds and Kai Johnson also added a dozen in a reserve role to lead Ventura (11-11, 4-2).
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Pirates Sail Past Santa Barbara, 95-66
January 24, 2024Behind a strong team effort in which eight players scored eight or more points, the Ventura College men's basketball team sailed past Santa Barbara 95-66 Wednesday at the Athletic Event Center. Carter Alexander led the way with 22 points and seven rebounds and Caleb Gilbert added 13 points and five boards. Reese Widerburg was the third Pirate in double figures with 10.
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Alexander Nets 28 to Push Ventura Past LA Pierce
January 20, 2024Carter Alexander hit a season-best six 3-pointers en route to 28 points leading the Pirates' men's basketball team to an 88-79 victory over Los Angeles Pierce Saturday at the Athletic Event Center. Dominik Contreras scored 22 points while Caleb Gilbert and Reese Widerburg added 17 and 11 points, respectively for Ventura (10-10, 3-1).
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VC Falls in Final Minute at Moorpark
January 17, 2024The VC men's basketball team held a 68-67 advantage with 1:19 remaining in the game Wednesday at Moorpark before yielding the final five points of the contest in their narrow 72-68 defeat. The final five minutes of play had four lead changes and three ties between the evenly matched rivals. Carter Alexander led Ventura (9-10, 2-1) with 16 points and Kai Johnson netted 13. Reese Widerburg added 11 points while Landreau Tate contributed seven rebounds and four assists to the effort.
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Contreras Hits for 32, Ventura Easily Handles Cuesta in SLO
January 13, 2024Pirate freshman Dominik Contreras scored a career-high 32 points as the VC men's basketball team easily handled their longest road trip of the Western State Conference season with a 106-74 triumph at Cuesta on Saturday. Caleb Gilbert netted 23 points and Reese Widerburg scored 11 as the Pirates evened their overall mark at 9-9 and moved to 2-0 in WSC play.
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Men's Basketball Captures WSC Opener
January 10, 2024Ventura'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.
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Pirates Defeat Riverside in Final Non-Conference Contest
December 29, 2023The Pirates' men's basketball team traveled to Riverside Friday, defeating the RCC 80-74 for their third victory against the Tigers this season. Reese Widerburg came in off the bench to drop 18 points and Carter Alexander scored 13. Caleb Gilbert netted 11 while Mykayle McCoy, Caleb Geisendorfer and Vernon Henry all added seven points in the balanced attack.
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Balanced Attack Leads MBB in Rout of LA Harbor
December 20, 2023The Pirates' men's basketball team had six players score between eight and 16 points Wednesday at the Athletic Event Center as they defeated Los Angeles Harbor 87-58. Caleb Gilbert had a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds and Carter Alexander totaled 16 points to lead the way for Ventura (6-9) in the victory. Dominik Contreras and Reese Widerburg each scored nine while Mykayle McCoy and Kai Johnson each scored eight.
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Alexander's 32 Not Enough for Ventura at Valley
December 13, 2023Sophomore guard Carter Alexander posted a career-high 32 points Wednesday but it was not enough as the Pirates' men's basketball team dropped an 81-73 decision at Los Angeles Valley. The Camarillo high School product was 12-18 from the floor and 6-6 at the free throw line in the setback. Blake Berry added 10 points for the Pirates, who committed 24 turnovers against the Monarchs in the contest.
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Men's Basketball Can't Hold Off SBVC Rally
December 09, 2023The VC men's basketball team had a 19-point lead early in the second half but could not hold off a San Bernardino Valley rally over the final 10 minutes of play in their 82-76 setback to the Wolverines on the final day of the Riverside Tournament. Caleb Gilbert led four Pirate players in double-figures with 19 points and Kai Johnson and Blake Berry each netted 15. Mykayle McCoy recorded 13 points off the bench in the effort.
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VC Runs Past Riverside in Tourney
December 07, 2023The VC men's basketball team defeated Riverside for the second time this season Thursday, posting a 79-61 victory over the Tigers at the RCC tournament. Caleb Gilbert filled the net with 25 points on 10-12 shooting from the floor, 2-3 rom three, and 3-4 at the free throw line while Kai Johnson netted 20, including a 7-8 performance at the foul line. Derrick Young and Mykayle McCoy each pulled in nine rebounds to lead the Pirates (5-7).
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Pirates on Short End WIth Saddleback at RCC Tourney
December 06, 2023The VC men's basketball team came up short Wednesday against Saddleback, falling 68-55 on the first day of the Riverside City College Tournament. Kai Johnson came off the bench to score 12 points to lead the way while Carter Alexander and Reese Widerburg each contributed 11. Caleb Gilbert netted eight points for the Pirates, who had an off shooting day following the long trip to the Inland Empire.
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Ventura Drops Tourney Finale to Host AVC
December 03, 2023The VC men's basketball team dropped its finale in the Gregg Anderson Memorial Tournament to host Antelope Valley Sunday afternoon, 107-98. Carter Alexander led the way for the Pirates with 24 points, including four made 3-pointers, and Kai Johnson netted 23 with seven assists. Caleb Gilbert posted a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds for VC (4-6).
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Men's Basketball Falls in Tourney Semifinal
December 02, 2023The VC men's basketball team dropped a 76-63 decision to Pasadena Saturday in the semifinals of the Gregg Anderson Memorial Tournament at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster. Caleb Geisendorfer led the Pirates (4-5) with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds and Kai Johnson netted 18. Caleb Gilbert totaled 10 points with eight boards in the setback.
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Gilbert Drops 39 in Pirate Victory
December 01, 2023VC's Caleb Gilbert dropped 39 points Friday, leading the Pirates' men's basketball team to an 85-70 triumph over Victor Valley on the opening day of the Gregg Anderson memorial Tournament at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster. The sophomore shot 17-21 from the floor, 1-3 from three and 4-7 at the free throw line in the victory. Kai Johnson had 21 points and Caleb Geisendorfer added 15 for Ventura (4-4).
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VC Holds Off LA Southwest for Pre-Holiday Victory
November 22, 2023The VC men's basketball team held off the hard charging Los Angeles Southwest Cougars for an 84-81 victory at the Athletic Event Center on Thanksgiving-Eve. Ventura had five players in double figures led by Caleb Geisendorfer's 21 points and nine rebounds. Caleb Gilbert totaled a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards while Reese Widerburg contributed 15 points. Vernon Henry and Beckham Rutherford each tallied 11 points and Henry dished out seven assists.
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Pirates Rebound With Win Over Canyons
November 11, 2023The VC men's basketball team rebounded Saturday with an 82-72 victory over Canyons in the 3rd Place game of the Irvine Valley Classic. Caleb Geisendorfer had a big game double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds and Kai Johnson scored 14. Vernon Henry netted 11 points with seven assists and Dominik Contreras was in double-figures with 10 in the triumph.
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Men's Basketball Drops Contest at Irvine Valley
November 09, 2023Playing away from home for the first time this season, the Pirates' men's basketball team dropped a 71-53 decision at Irvine Valley Thursday night. Vernon Henry scored 12 points with nine assists to lead Ventura while Caleb Gilbert and Mykayle McCoy each netted 10 points. McCoy also grabbed a team-best seven rebounds in the opener of the Irvine Valley Classic.
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Men's Basketball Drops Close Decision in Tourney Finale
November 04, 2023Playing for the third day in a row in the season-opening tournament, the VC men's basketball team and San Diego Miramar battled fatigue as well as each other as the Jest prevailed over the Pirates 58-55 Saturday afternoon at the Athletic Event Center. Reese Widerburg netted 12 points to lead VC while Mykayle McCoy added 11 points and nine rebounds to the effort.
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Men's Basketball Drops Game on Day 2 of WPH Tourney
November 03, 2023On day two of the We Play Hard Tournament, the Pirtae men's basketball team dropped a 73-55 decision to visiting Saddleback. Reese Widerburg led VC (1-1) with 14 points and Kai Johnson totaled 13 points with five rebounds and four assists.
