It had everything one would want from a basketball game in March - in November. One team had a big lead; another came back; the teams battled back and forth; each team had a chance to win in regulation, in overtime, and in double-overtime; and the No. 4-ranked Pirates were standing at the end of their 104-103 double-overtime thriller over No. 14 Antelope Valley on the final day of the We Play Hard Tournament. Adrian McIntyre had a steal and game-winning lay-up with 7.1 seconds remaining, and blocked the Marauders' final shot attempts as time expired to preserve the hard-fought victory.
Anthony McIntyre led the Pirates (3-0) with 37 points on 15-25 shooting from the floor, including two 3-pointers, with six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Adrian finished with 23 points, including a 12-14 performance at the free throw line, five boards, four assists and 10 steals, including the theft that led to the game-winner. Anthony Garza netted 19 points and Kordell Gordon recorded 10 points and nine caroms.
Ventura took an early lead, and made it 7-2 when Adrian hit a deep 3-pointer off an inbounds play as the shot clock expired, and Anthony's tear-drop made it 11-6 at the 15:10 mark of the first half.
The Marauders made a small run to close to within 15-12, forcing a Ventura timeout, and the Pirates responded with a run of their own. Adrian had a steal and pass to brother Anthony for a 23-14 advantage at the 8:33 mark, and Adrian's theft with a pass to Garza for the dunk made it 27-17 two minutes later. VC kept up the defensive pressure with another steal by Adrian with a pass to Anthony for the finish, and Anthony fed Gordon for a dunk at the 5:07 mark for a 31-19 margin. The Pirates led at halftime 42-25.
The Pirates were dominant in the opening 20 minutes, shooting 58 percent from the floor (14-24) and making 12 of 18 free throws. Additionally, the VC defense forced 13 turnovers by AVC and held the Marauders to 43 percent shooting. Ventura held an 18-9 advantage on the glass.
The second half was a different story with Antelope Valley taking the offensive. The Marauders closed to within 45-36 at the 16:54 mark and VC led 43-39 before Jelani Bell hit Garza for a bucket inside. After AVC pulled to within 50-46 with 12:58 on the clock, Gordon scored on back-to-back possessions, first off a high-low pass from Garza for a thunderous dunk, then on a pass from Adrian for a 5-footer. But even as the Pirates answered,the Marauders kept coming back with a little more. AVC finally caught the Pirates on a 3-pointer with 8:17 left to play, taking a 56-55 lead. The teams traded scores until Donavan Williams turned an offensive rebound into an assist inside to Garza for another dunk and a 62-61 VC margin at the 4:49 mark.
Shulton Tobin scored an old-fashioned 3-point play for a 67-63 VC advantage, and Garza hit a pair of charity tosses for a 6-point lead, 71-65, with 2:24 on the clock. Antelope Valley scored the next five points before Gordon answered with a putback for a 73-70 lead with under a minute remaining. Anthony drove for a deuce late for a 75-72 lead, but Antelope Valley hit a clutch three to tie the game and force overtime.
The Marauders took the early advantage in the extra time, 78-75, but VC came back with a pair of free throws by Anthony and a dunk by Gordon off of Tobin's dime. AVC responded again, taking an 86-82 lead, but the Pirates had another answer, including a pair of 3-point plays by Anthony. The teams were tied at 92-92 at the end of the first overtime period.
The game remained a back-and-forth affair in the second extra period with Aaron Dawoodjee scoring a lay-up from an assist by Anthony for a two point VC lead. AVC came back with consecutive scores to retake the lead before Anthony connected for two in transition for a 96-96 tie. After a Marauder deuce, Adrian had a steal and lay-up and a Tobin free throw gave VC a one point margin, 99-98. Anthony scored another transition bucket for a 101-98 edge. but AVC answered with two. Adrian hit one of two free throws before the Marauders hit a trey for a 103-102 lead with 46.3 seconds remaining. After a quick shot and miss by the Pirates, AVC brought the ball back down the court before Adrian provided the heroics with his game-winning steal and lay-up. Ventura outlasted Antelope Valley 104-103.
Ventura next travels to Irvine on Thursday and Friday Nov. 11 and 12 for the Irvine Valley Classic. The Pirates begin the tournament against the host Lasers on Thursday at 7:00 pm.