Pirates Drop RCC Tournament Finale to Hosts.

The VC men's basketball team fell behind during a first half run by Riverside Saturday, and fought the rest of the way against the Tigers before falling 78-72 in the Hypland Classic at RCC. Snookey Wigington scored a season-best 31 points while Jerimiyah Smith and Baron Bellamy each recorded double-doubles with 15 points and 14 rebounds, and 10 points and 10 rebounds, respectively.

Wigington assisted a Ballamy lay-up at the 11:11 mark of the first half to tie the game at 13, and Wigington's 3-pointer pt VC ahead 16-15 on the next possession. Smith gave Ventura n 18-17 lead with a pair of free throws with 9:32 on the clock before the Tigers went on a 15-2 run over the next four minutes to take a 32-20 advantage. Bellamy hit one of two free throws and Wigington scored a lay-up to end the VC skid, but the Pirates still trailed 42-33 at halftime.

Wigington scored a deuce, then completed a 4-point play, and Kevin Anigbogu cashed in Bellamy's dime and Ventura pulled to within 42-41 less than two minutes into the second half. RCC scored seven of the next eight points to reestablish control before Wigington's old-fashioned 3-point play put the Pirates ahead 56-55 with 12:23 remaining. Riverside took over at that point, going on a 16-0 run to hold a 71-56 margin with six minutes left to play. VC closed to within five points, 77-72, at the 1:45 mark but could get no closer.

The Pirates will be back i action on Thursday Dec. 11 at Bakersfield.