Pirates Rebound With Win Over Canyons

The VC men's basketball team rebounded Saturday with an 82-72 victory over Canyons in the 3rd Place game of the Irvine Valley Classic. Caleb Geisendorfer had a big game double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds and Kai Johnson scored 14. Vernon Henry netted 11 points with seven assists and Dominik Contreras was in double-figures with 10 in the triumph.

The Pirates (2-3) led for much of the game beginning with scores by Caleb Gilbert, Johnson and Geisendorfer to begin the game. After the Cougars tied the game at 6-6, Reese Widerburg hit a three and Geisendorfer made a lay-up off of Johnson's assist on consecutive possessions to put VC ahead 11-6 with 15:43 remaining in the first half.

Contreras scored a lay-up at the 7:50 mark, then was fouled after a steal and made two free throws to extend the lead to double-figures, 26-15, at the 7:25 mark. Johnson's jumper with 1:34 on the clock maintained the advantage, 38-27, before Canyons scored the final four points of the period.  Ventura led at halftime 38-31.

The Cougars outscored the Pirates 7-2 in the opening five minutes of the second half closing to within 40-38 before Geisendorfer's two charity shots ended the VC skid. Ventura continued to hold off CoC with a pair of 3-pointers by Blake Berry, a dunk by Geisendorfer and a three by Gilbert. 

The Cougars eventually took a short-lived lead at 64-63 with 4:57 remaining, before Henry hit a free shot and Berry converted two foul shots to put VC back on top. Geisendorfer's jumper assisted by Henry at the 3:14 mark gave the Pirates the lead for good, 68-66, and Mykayle McCoy scored a lay-up to extend the lead to four, 70-66. McCoy followed with an old fashioned 3-point play with 1:04 on the clock to provide the dagger. VC hit six of seven free throws down the stretch to seal the 82-72 victory.

Berry added eight points and five rebounds to the effort and Gilbert scored seven with four boards. Johnson dropped five dimes in the game and Henry captured three steals.

The Pirates next travel to Porterville on Wednesday Nov. 15 for a 5:00 pm game.