Second Half Defense Leads VC to Victory

The Pirates' men's basketball team stepped up their defense in the second half on Wednesday night, outscoring Los Angeles Pierce 43-25 in the final 20 minutes of play in their 83-70 win over the Brahmas at the Athletic Event Center. Ventura held Pierce to 30 percent shooting from the floor (9-30) in the final frame and took advantage of 13 second half turnovers by the Brahmas. Timothy Turner had a double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds to lead the way and Donavan Williams also netted 20 points for the Pirates (12-7, 3-0).

Five minutes into the game, Turner hit a lay-up and Donavan made a 3-pointer to give VC a 13-8 advantage. Donavan connected on another triple at the 12:40 mark to extend the lead to eight, 18-10, before a 9-0 run by the Brahmas put the Pirates behind at the midway point of he half. Turner scored the next eight points for Ventura, giving the Pirates a 26-21 advantage with 7:54 on the clock, but Pierce was able to come back and tie the game at 32 three minutes later. LAPC opened up a seven point lead late in the half, but Kingston Williams hit a lay-up in the final minute to make the halftime score 45-40 for the Brahmas.

VC got untracked on both ends of the floor early in the final period. Dayshone Henry posted a pair of deuces around a bucket by Donavan for a 6-0 Ventura run to open things up. After consecutive scored by Pierce, VC responded with the next nine points to take control of the game. With the Pirates behind 49-46, Donavan hit a pair of free throws followed by Tone Patton's tip-in. Donavan's steal and assist on the next possession led to a three by Turner, and Patton converted another offensive rebound for a 55-49 Ventura lead with 16:00 remaining. After a Pierce bucket, Shulton Tobin continued the Pirate run with an old-fashioned 3-point play and a made lay-up. Turner hit a pair of charity tosses and Henry threw one down off Donavan's dime, and Donavan hit from range for a 67-51 advantage. Henry hit one of two free shots with 10:47 on the clock to punctuate the Pirates' 22-2 run. The Brahmas scored the next seven points to make it a 10-point game, but the Ventura was then able to hold off the Pierce charge. The Brahmas never got closer than nine points the rest of the way as VC remained unbeaten in conference play.

Henry finished the game with 14 points and nine rebounds and Patton scored 12 with five boards. Tobin was the fifth Pirate in double figures with 11 points in the game.

Ventura next travels to Moorpark for a 3:00 pm game on Saturday Jan. 18. They will return home on Saturday Jan. 25 hosting Oxnard.