The VC men's basketball team cut a nine-point deficit to one in the final five minutes of play Tuesday against Bakersfield, but the Renegades were able to hold off the Pirates in the 77-72 decision at the Athletic Event Center. Kam'Ron Cigar led Ventura with 21 points while Jeremiah Wilson added 15 with five rebounds and Isaiah Dudley scored 12 points with seven boards.
After a fast start by BC, the Pirates came back with buckets by Dudley, K. Cigar and Kevin Hymes to take an early 6-5 lead. The Renegades then slowly built a six point lead, 18-12, with 10:17 remaining in the first half. K. Cigar ended a two-minute scoring drought by both teams with a three, and he followed that up with two more shots from range to give the Pirates a 21-20 lead with 6:57 on the clock. The game was tied at 24, 26 and 29 before K. Cigar's fourth three of the half gave Ventura the 32-29 edge at intermission.
The teams battled early in the second half as the Renegades took a brief 34-32 lead and the Pirates came back to hold a 39-36 advantage on Dudley's made 3-pointer. BC then went on a 12-2 run over the next six minutes to hold a 48-41 margin with 12:33 left to play. Wilson's old-fashioned 3-point play ended the Ventura skid and the Pirates maintained the deficit against the Renegades, but could not reduce it over the next few minutes of play.
With 4:34on the clock, BC scored a lay-up to hold a 68-59 advantage setting the stage for the Pirate comeback. Sky Clay hit a pair of free throws before Brown connected form range to cut the deficit to four, 68-64. After a BC bucket, K. Cigar scored a lay-up and Wilson hit a three to pull VC to within 70-69 at the 1:44 mark. Wilson answered a Renegade three with his own triple at the 1:02 mark, and a Bakersfield turnover gave the Pirates the ball with 48 seconds left down by one. Unfortunately, a BC blocked shot ended the Ventura threat, and the Pirates were forced to foul down the stretch, falling 77-72.
Ventura next travels to Compton for a game on Friday Dec. 13 at 5:00 pm.