Ventura Outlasts Oxnard in WSC North Victory

The VC men's basketball team outlasted visiting Oxnard Saturday, claiming a 94-88 triumph over the Condors in Western State Conference North Division play. Kai Johnson netted a career-best 27 points, Anthony Garza scored 25, and Daniel Crocker tallied 20 as Ventura (17-5, 6-1) went on a 12-5 run in the final 2:35 to preserve the victory. Garza flirted with a triple-double by adding 12 rebounds and seven assists to hit scoring total while Johnson added eight boards and six dimes. Marcus Watson contributed 13 points and six boards to the effort.

Ventura pulled away slowly in the beginning with Max Kadlec hitting a three with 15:07 remaining in the first half for a 13-6 Pirate lead. Kordell Gordon's lay-up two minutes later extended the lead to eight, 18-10, before the Condors scored eight of the next 10 points to pull back into the game. With VC ahead 20-18 midway through the half, Crocker hit a lay-up and Johnson nailed a pair of free shots to temporarily hold OC off.

Oxnard took a 30-29 lead at the 7:14 mark before Gordon scored a lay-up and Jonson hit a three after a steal by Garza. Crocker the cashed in a dime from Garza for three and VC was back ahead, 37-30. Johnson answered a pair of charity shots by OC with an offensive rebounds and putback, and Watson grabbed a steal and scored a lay-up to extend the advantage. On the next possession, Watson hit a pair of free throws to make in 43-32 with 4:14 remaining, then assisted a Crocker bucket to move the margin to 13 points. Ventura led 49-40 at halftime.

Johnson and Crocker maintained the Pirate lead early in the second half, and Garza's dunk with 16:07 on the clock made it 60-47. Watson followed with a lay-up off Johnson's dime and the Pirates held their largest lead of the game, 62-47. Oxnard climbed back into the game with an 11-1 run, pulling to within 63-58 two minutes later. Garza scored a pair of buckets, Tony Njia hit for two, and Watson scored a lay-up off Gordon's pass for a 71-64 margin halfway through the second stanza. 

Ventura continued to hold off the Condors through the next five minutes of game time with the lead fluctuating between three and five points. The Condors nailed a triple at the 5:02 mark to pull to within 80-79, and they took an 83-82 lead over VC with 2:35 on the clock. The Pirates were not to be denied, however, as Crocker scored on a 3-point play to put Ventura ahead for good on the next possession. Garza answered an OC free throw with a 3-point play for an 88-84 lead before Watson hit two free throws and Johnson made four charity chances to seal the 94-88 win.

The Pirates next take the court on Wednesday Feb. 1 at Cuesta College. Tip-off in San Luis Obispo is slated for 7:00 pm following the VC women's game with the Cougars at 5:00 pm.