Pirates Go Wire-to-Wire Over Saddleback

Bo Dolinsek hit two free throws on the Pirates first possession of the game, and Jeremiah Wilson scored a putback on the second as the Pirates' men's basketball team went wire-to-wire in defeating Saddleback 75-65 Tuesday at the Athletic Event Center. Dolinsek tallied 22 points with 10 boards and Wilson added 19 points with six caroms. Elijah Brown chipped in 11 points off the bench for VC (5-4) and Kevin Hymes pulled in 10 rebounds and added four assists.

Hymes made a lay-up assisted by Dolinsek with 13:35 remaining in the first half to stretch the Pirate lead to 13-3 and Brown hit from range to answer a Bobcat deuce on the next trip down the floor. Ventura maintained the advantage throughout the opening period, stretching it to 13 points, 29-16, on Wilson's old-fashioned 3-point play with 3:21 on the clock. Dolinsek cashed in a dime from Hymes at the 1:34 mark for a 35-21 margin and Ventura led 37-24 at halftime.

The second half was a series of Bobcat runs and Pirate push back as VC maintained control throughout. Saddleback made a three to close to within 39-33 with 16:44 left in the game before Ventura answered with a lay-up by Brown and a three from Wilson. The score was 55-51 for the Pirates with 8:13 on the clock when Dolinsek made a pair of close shots to hold off the Bobcats, once again. Saddleback's finial push made it 61-56 with 4:41 remaining before another field goal by Dolinsek followed by one of two free throws, a free throw by Wilson, and a lay-up by Isaiah Dudley made it 66-58 with 1:50 left. Kam'Ron Cigar added two charity shots on the next possession to put the game out of reach, 68-58, with 1:37 on the clock.

The Pirates return to the hardwoods on Thursday and Friday Nov. 21-22 at the Milt Stowe Classic at Porterville College. They play the host Pirates on Thursday before taking on El Camino on Friday.