MBB Claims Overtime Win, Honors Coach Mathews

The VC men's basketball team battled for an 84-79 win over Riverside City College Saturday in the finale of the We Play Hard Tip-Off Tournament. Bo Dolinsek and reserve Isaiah Dudley each netted 20 points to spark the Pirate victory over the Tigers, and their head coach Phil Mathews. Before the game, Mathews, the Hall of Fame coach who created Ventura's We Play Hard dynasty from 1985-95, was honored with a banner in the Athletic Event Center on what was his final game in the venue before his retirement at the end of the current season.

RCC held the upper hand early as they moved out to a 16-6 lead in the first five minutes of the game. Jeremiah Wilson sandwiched a pair of three's around a Tiger basket to get the Pirates going, and Sky Clay hit a triple to close the gap to 18-17 with 11:46 remaining in the first half. Dolinsek scored twice inside to give VC (2-1) the lead 21-18 two minutes later.

There were eight lead changes and four tied down the stretch in the period as the teams battled. Kevin Hymes assisted a Kam'Ron Cigar three with 7:14 on the clock to give Ventura a 26-25 edge and Wilson's dunk regained the Pirates' advantage, 30-29 at the 3:51 mark. A pair of free throws by Isaiah Dudley tied the score for the final time in the half, 34-34, with 1:54 remaining before the Tigers opened a 41-37 margin at halftime.

Dolinsek led the way for Ventura early in the second half with a pair of inside scores to quickly pull the Pirates even. RCC responded, however, with six straight before Hymes had a steal and lay-up for a 47-43 Pirate deficit with 14:25 on the clock. Riverside then stretched the lead to as many as 12 points, 66-54, with 7:58 remaining before Dudly's old-fashioned 3-point play started the Ventura comeback.

Wilson cashed in a three off of Hymes' dime and Cyrus Smith hit a jumper to close the gap to 66-62 at the 6:08 mark. Dudley answered a Tiger three with a deuce and VC trailed 69-64 with 4:48 on the clock. The teams remained locked into that count until Hymes had another steal and lay-up with 1:37 remaining. Dudley then scored a lay-up and free throw to pull Ventura even, 69-69, with less than a minute left in regulation. Both teams had opportunities to break the deadlock, but neither were successful as the game went to overtime.

There were four ties and two lead changes early in the extra period before Dolinsek broke the a 77-77 tie with a made jump shot.K. Cigar followed with a defensive rebound and a field goal off of Dolinsek's assist to open up an 81-77 lead in the final minute. Ventura made three of four free throws in the final 24 seconds  to hold off the Tigers, who scored a late-lay-up to set the final 84-79 score.

Dolinsek added 10 rebounds to his 20 points for another double-double and Wilson totaled 15 points in the game for VC. Hymes and K. Cigar each contributed an even dozen to the effort and Hymes pulled in five steals.

The Pirates next travel to Irvine for the Irvine Valley Classic. VC opens the tournament with Cerritos on Thursday Nov. 7 at 5:00 pm.

Numerous VC alumni came together to honor Hall of Fame coach Phil Mathews in his final game at the Athletic Event Center.