Ctr Will Faiivae had 22 pts and PG Dee Pinkard had 15 as #6 Ventura edged Big Bend of Moses Lake, Washington, 81-75, in the consolation final of the 19th Annual Cougar Holiday Classic Monday afternoon in Santa Clarita.
Ventura led most of the second half, but could never really put away a stubborn Big Bend squad. The Ventura lead was just 4 points in the final minute until free throws by Pinkard and SG Danny Benson made it 81-75.
Big Bend started each half strong, opening a 20-12 lead in the opening minutes of the game and a 42-37 lead early in the second half. But each time, Ventura quickly rallied, going on a 13-0 run to take a 25-20 lead in the first half and going on an 8-0 spurt to take a 42-37 lead in the second half.
Big Bend came back to tie the game at 56 on a 3-pointer by PF Kolby Secrist with 8:15 left in the game. But then Faiivae scored consecutive baskets to put Ventura back in front, and the Pirates held on down the stretch for the win.
Faiivae added 8 rebs and 4 blocks to his game-high 22 pts, while Pinkard had an especially strong game, going 5-for-6 from the floor and 5-for-6 from the free throw line for his 15 pts and also adding 4 asts and 3 steals. PF Anthony Burtley chipped in with 5 pts but more importantly pulled down a team-high 12 rebs.
For Big Bend, SG Michael Hattar came off the bench to score 17 pts and add 6 rebs and 4 asts. SF Josh Schouman had a strong game with 16 pts, 8 rebs and 4 asts. Ctr Jeff Ranstrom had 16 pts while Secrist had a double-double with 11 pts and 12 rebs, plus 3 blocks and 2 steals.
box score
Monday, December 29, 2008 - 2 pm
19th Annual Cougar Holiday Classic - Santa Clarita
Consolation Final
Ventura Pirates 81:
4-Anthony Burtley, PF - 2/2 fg, 1/4 ft, 12 reb, 2 stl, 3 pf, 5 pts
5-Danny Benson, SG - 2/8 fg, 4/8 ft, 7 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 3 pf, 8 pts
20-Eric Gray, SF - 3/5 fg, 4 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 3 pf, 9 pts
25-Dee Pinkard, PG - 5/6 fg, 5/6 ft, 1 reb, 4 ast, 1 blk, 3 stl, 2 pf, 15 pts
42-Will Faiivae, C - 8/16 fg, 6/10 ft, 8 reb, 4 blk, 2 stl, 3 pf, 22 pts
11-Prince Abidoye, G - 0/8 fg, 3/3 ft, 4 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 1 pf, 3 pts
12-Mike Diacos, G - 2/4 fg, 2/2 ft, 1 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 3 pf, 7 pts
22-Jordan Harris, F - 2/4 fg, 4 reb, 1 pf, 4 pts
33-Randy Hunter, C - 3/5 fg, 0/1 ft, 1 ast, 1 blk, 2 pf, 6 pts
55-Jeremiah Slowik, F - 1/2 fg, 1 reb, 2 pts
30-Andre Jamerson, G - 0 pts
team rebounds: 7
Totals: 28/60 fg (.467), 21/34 ft (.618), 49 reb, 19 ast, 6 blk, 13 stl, 21 pf, 81 pts
3-pt fg (4): Gray 3, Diacos
Turnovers (17): Benson 5, Pinkard 4, Burtley 2, Gray 2, Faiivae, Abidoye, Harris, Slowik
Big Bend Runnin' Vikes 75:
12-Christopher Hatch, PG - 1/8 fg, 1/2 ft, 2 reb, 3 ast, 4 stl, 2 pf, 3 pts
20-Cody Groth, SG - 2/9 fg, 1/2 ft, 3 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 7 pts
22-Kolby Secrist, PF - 4/11 fg, 2/6 ft, 12 reb, 1 ast, 3 blk, 2 stl, 4 pf, 11 pts
31-Josh Schouman, SF - 6/13 fg, 1/2 ft, 8 reb, 4 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 4 pf, 16 pts
40-Jeff Ranstrom, C - 5/12 fg, 5/7 ft, 3 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 4 pf, 16 pts
23-Michael Hattar, G - 7/20 fg, 6 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 2 pf, 17 pts
5-Skyler Larsen, G - 1 reb, 2 ast, 2 pf, 0 pts
50-Jeff Coffman, C - 2/4 fg, 1/2 ft, 5 reb, 1 stl, 3 pf, 5 pts
team rebounds: 3
Totals: 27/77 fg (.351), 11/21 ft (.524), 43 reb, 17 ast, 5 blk, 10 stl, 21 pf, 75 pts
3-pt fg (10): Schouman 3, Hattar 3, Groth 2, Secrist, Ranstrom
Turnovers (13): Secrist 3, Hattar 3, Groth 2, Ranstrom 2, Hatch, Larsen, Coffman
Halftime Score: Ventura 33, Big Bend 30
Updated Records: Ventura (#6-South, #12-Calif) 15-4, Big Bend 7-5
