The Pirates' men's basketball team trailed 56-55 with two minutes remaining before outsocing the Vaqueros 6-1 down the stretch to capture the win, 61-57. Jeremiah Wilson scored 18 points, including a key 3-point play late, while Bo Dolinsek netted 13 points with eight rebounds. Kevin Hymes scored 11 points with eight boards and five assists in the victory.
SBCC came out hot, taking a 8-1 lead in the first four minutes of play. Kam'Ron Cigar's bucket gave VC a reprieve before a deuce by Isaiah Dudley and Wilson's dunk brought VC back to within 13-9. The Vaqueros countered with five straight points before another jumper by Cigar, and Santa Barbara led by as many as 13, 27-14, with 3:34 remaining in the half. Dolinsek hit a 3-pointer to begin a 7-0 run to close the half and the Pirates trailed 27-21 at intermission.
Hymes dropped a dime for a Wilson lay-up early in the second half and Dolinsek followed a SB score with an old-fashioned 3-point play. The Vaqueros seemed to have an answer for each Pirate run, however, and they led 47-34 with 12:01 on the clock. Dolinsek scored inside and Wilson nailed a pair of shots from range to get the Pirates back in the game with an 8-0 run over the next two minute of play. Hymes connected for a pair of free throws to pull Ventura to within 52-49 at the 5:14 mark before Dudley and Hymes sandwiched a pair of field goals around a Santa Barbara score.
Hymes made a lay-up with 3:10 remaining to give Ventura a 55-54 lead before the Vaqueros scored at the 2:10 mark to retake the lead. Elijah Brown's 3-point play put Ventura back ahead 58-56 with 1:53 left and Hymes hit one of two foul shots in the final minute for a 59-57 edge. Sky Clay hit a pair of charity shots in the closing seconds to seal the 61-57 come-from-behind win.
Ventura next travels to Cuesta on Wednesday Jan. 22 for a 7:00 pm contest.