Cold Shooting Slows Ventura in Playoff Loss
Hosting the 3C2A Southern California Regional Finals for the first time in 18 years, the VC men's basketball team's cold shooting proved too much to overcome in their 67-59 playoff loss to San Diego City. Jerimiyah Smith led the way for VC with a double-double, totaling 14 points and 12 rebounds while Kam’Ron Cigar provided an additional offensive lift, matching Smith with 14 points and adding four rebounds.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
33 | 34 | 67 |
|
|
26 | 33 | 59 |
Team Stats
San Diego City
| Game Statistics | San Diego City | Ventura |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (24-65) | (19-67) |
| Field Goal % | 36.9% | 28.4% |
| Rebounds | 44 | 48 |
| Assists | 7 | 11 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 16 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 15 | 12 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 7 | 12 |
| Pts in the Paint | 30 | 24 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 2 | 0 |
| Bench Pts | 15 | 15 |
Ventura trailed 33-26 at halftime and could never quite erase the deficit, despite controlling the glass and generating multiple second-chance opportunities. The Knights did just enough down the stretch, edging the Pirates 34-33 in the second half to secure the eight-point win.
The Pirates' defense and rebounding kept the contest tight throughout. VC finished with a 48-44 advantage on the boards, including 14 offensive rebounds that led to a 12-7 edge in second-chance points. Ventura also matched San Diego in steals at seven apiece and limited the visitors to 36.9% shooting from the field. But the Pirates struggled to convert on the offensive end, shooting 28.4 percent (19 of 67) overall and 15.2 percent (5 of 33) from 3-point range.
Smith led the way for VC with his double-double and Cigar provided an additional offensive lift. Baron Bellamy was the third Pirate in double figures, totaling 10 points in the game.
The disappointing finish to the season cannot dampen the success of the Pirates' campaign. Ventura finished the season with a 25-5 overall record and an 11-1 mark in Western State Conference play. VC won the program's first conference title since 2023 and hosted the regional final for the first time since 2008. Despite Saturday's setback, the Pirates' men's basketball team accomplished much in 2025-26.