Pirates Complete Regular Season With Win at Hancock

The Pirates' men's basketball team completed the 2021-22 regular season with a 72-59 victory at Allan Hancock College Friday in Santa Maria, finishing its second consecutive season with a perfect 12-0 Western State Conference North Division record. Anthony McIntyre scored 21 points with six assists while Shulton Tobin scored 16 points with seven rebounds. Adrian McIntyre netted 15 points with wight boards and five steals as VC won its 25th consecutive conference game dating back to the end of the 2018-19 season.

After falling behind 4-0 early, Ventura (25-2, 12-0) went on an 18-2 run to assert control over the contest. Tobin made a pair of free throws to get the Pirates on the board, then Adrian Mc. converted an assist by brother Anthony following an Anthony Garza steal to tie the score with 17:05 on the clock.

Anthony Mc. converted a lay-up to put the Pirates ahead for good on the next possession and Tobin cashed in a dime from Adrian Mc. for three and a 9-4 advantage. Anthony Mc. sandwiched a pair of easy scores around two charity shots by Tobin, and Aaron Dawoodjee hit from range for an 18-6 VC lead with 12:02 on the clock.

The Pirate lead reached 17 points, 36-19, at the 2:41 mark of he period when Anthony Mc. made two free shots, and Ventura held a 39-26 margin at intermission.

Ventura continued the offensive to start the second half, posting a 12-4 run to stretch the lead to 21 points, 51-30. Adrian Mc. had a steal and lay-up, and Anthony Mc. followed on the next possession with a 3-pointer. Dawoodjee converted from behind the arc and Anthony Mc. scored again on a drive before Tobin's lay-up completed the run with 15:53 remaining in the game. 

Both teams cooled off considerably down the stretch, but VC was able to maintain a comfortable lead throughout. Tobin's lay-up at the 4:40 mark gave the Pirates a 22-point margin, 68-46, and Dawoodjee followed with another easy bucket to stretch the lead to 24. Anthony Mc. gave Ventura its biggest lead, 71-46, with 3:04 on the clock before the Bulldogs made a run on the Pirate reserves to close the gap to 72-59 at the final buzzer.

Dawoodjee finished the game with 11 points and six rebounds, and Garza posted eight points and six boards in the contest.

Ventura, who finished the best regular season since the 1994-95 Pirates went 31-1 under Hall of Fame coach Phil Mathews, will await the CCCAA Southern California playoff seedings to be announced on Sunday Feb. 27. VC will most likely host a playoff game on Thursday Mar. 3 at 7:00 pm at the Athletic Event Center.