Men's Basketball Opens SBCC Tournament With Win

Timmy Garcia helped led the way for Ventura College men's basketball teams win over Palomar College 71-63. Garcia poured in a team high 20 points in the win and was one of three total Pirates to score in double figures. Jalon Wilson helped front the Pirate offensive attack with six assists in the game.

After a tough weekend in the high desert saw the Pirates drop two games in the Gregg Anderson Memorial Tournament, VC (5-5) looked to respond in a match-up with the Comets of Palomar College. Garcia showcased his long range shooting ability in the game hitting on over 50 percent of his 3-point attempts (6-11) in the game. It reflected the VC accuracy from downtown where as a team the Pirates hit on 16 of 37 attempts in the game including going seven for 14 in the second half alone. Garcia added two rebounds on the offensive end of the floor to go with a steal in helping seal the win.

Cordel Hankerson and Elijah Brown were the other two Ventura players to score in double figures with Hankerson putting in 12 points while Brown added 17 of his own. Hankerson pulled in six rebounds to go with an assist and a steal for the Pirates. Brown who has been the star of the Pirates offense early in the season added four rebounds, but showed his ability to distribute the basketball on the offense end of the floor where he dished out seven assists a team high. Brown was another Pirates who showed accuracy from long range hitting on four of his eight 3-point attempts, but his work on the defensive side of the floor helped hold off any rally from the Comets where brown picked up three steals.

Wilson added a steal and four rebounds to go with his six assists in the win. Steven Bush put in nine points on three of six from 3-point range with three rebounds. Finally, Trevor LaCount had eight points and nine rebounds in the win.

Ventura advances to the winners bracket of the SBCC tournament with a 9:00 pm match up with Canada College, which defeated Oxnard late Thursday night.