SG Danmy Benson had 25 pts and Ventura went on 13-0 runs towards the end of each half as the #12-ranked Pirates (19-6, 4-1) topped local rival Oxnard (9-13, 2-3), 77-62, Saturday night in WSC-North action.
Benson made his first 7 shots of the game before his 8th try was blocked by SF Marc Pajund, and made 9 of his 10 shot attempts in the first half. His 25 points easily led all scorers.
But the real key to this game was how Ventura finished the first half on a 13-0 run to take a 12-point halftime lead, and how the Pirate defense held the Condors scoreless for more than 5 minutes late in the game as Ventura put together another 13-0 run and pulled away for the win.
Neither team led by more than 4 points until the Ventura run at the end of the first half. Benson's driving lay-up - his 7th basket of the night in 7 shot attempts - gave Ventura a 29-28 lead. But that just started a 13-0 run that ended with a 3-pointer by SG Prince Abidoye in the final seconds of the half, making it 40-28 at the break.
Oxnard closed the gap to single digits early in the second half, and got within 3 points at 59-56 on a putback basket by Ctr Matt DeWaal with 5:45 left. However, by the time the Condors scored again, DeWaal had fouled out and the game's outcome was no longer in doubt.
Moments after DeWaal's basket, Ventura Ctr Randy Hunter threw down a loud jam on a break after a steal and outlet pass from Benson. That not only brought the crowd to its feet, but started another 13-0 run, and this one saw the Pirates clinch the win.
A 3-pointer by PG Dee Pinkard made it 64-56, and an off-balance jumper from the lane by Benson made it 66-56 with 3:20 remaining. A basket by Benson on a feed from Pinkard made it 68-56, and a lay-up by Pinkard after an outlet pass by Hunter made it 70-56. Then DeWaal fouled out with 1:47 left, at which point Hunter made a pair of free throws to make it 72-56 and ending any remaining doubt as to the game's outcome.
In addition to Benson, three Pirates scored in double figures. Ctr Will Faiivae had 11 pts, 6 rebs and 3 asts, while Pinkard and Hunter each had 10 pts. Pinkard also dished out a team-high 5 asts.
For Oxnard, PG John Johnson led the way with 18 pts, 5 asts and 3 steals. DeWaal had a huge game off the bench with 15 pts, 7 rebs and 8 blocked shots. PF Craig Lee had 11 pts.
The win keeps Ventura in a tie atop the WSC-North at 4-1, and the Pirates are now 19-6 overall. Oxnard falls to 2-3 in the division and 9-13 overall.
box score
Saturday, January 24, 2009 - 5 pm
at the VC Athletic Event Center, Ventura
WSC-North
Oxnard Condors 62:
11-John Johnson, PG - 6/15 fg, 3/5 ft, 2 reb, 5 ast, 3 stl, 2 pf, 18 pts
15-Marc Pajund, SF - 3/9 fg, 5 reb, 1 blk, 2 pf, 8 pts
22-Craig Lee, PF - 5/12 fg, 1/1 ft, 1 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 2 pf, 11 pts
24-Nick Molina, SG - 0/2 fg, 1 ast, 4 pf, 0 pts
34-Bernard Burrell, C - 2/8 fg, 3/4 ft, 5 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 2 pf, 7 pts
10-Brian Robinson, G - 0/1 fg, 1 reb, 0 pts
21-Matt DeWaal, C - 4/5 fg, 7/8 ft, 7 reb, 8 blk, 1 stl, 5 pf, 15 pts
32-Boris Boundjia, F - 1 pf, 0 pts
3-Brandon Jackson, G - 0 pts
45-Tristan Theys, C - 1/1 fg, 1/2 ft, 3 pts
team rebounds: 6
Totals: 21/53 fg (.396), 15/20 ft (.750), 27 reb, 11 ast, 9 blk, 6 stl, 18 pf, 62 pts
3-pt fg (5): Johnson 3, Pajaud 2
Fouled Out: DeWaal 1:47 left
Turnovers (12): Johnson 3, Burrell 3, DeWaal 3, Lee 2, team
Ventura Pirates 77:
4-Anthony Burtley, PF - 2/6 fg, 1 ast, 1 stl, 1 pf, 4 pts
5-Danny Benson, SG - 11/14 fg, 1/2 ft, 5 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 1 pf, 25 pts
20-Eric Gray, SF - 0/2 fg, 4 reb, 1 ast, 1 pf, 0 pts
25-Dee Pinkard, PG - 4/6 fg, 1/2 ft, 2 reb, 5 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 2 pf, 10 pts
42-Will Faiivae, C - 5/12 fg, 1/3 ft, 6 reb, 3 ast, 3 pf, 11 pts
11-Prince Abidoye, G - 1/6 fg, 2/2 ft, 2 reb, 1 ast, 5 pts
12-Mike Diacos, G - 2/4 ft, 2 ast, 3 pf, 2 pts
22-Jordan Harris, F - 1/1 fg, 1/4 ft, 4 reb, 2 pf, 3 pts
30-Alex Jamerson, G - 1/2 fg, 1 reb, 2 pf, 2 pts
33-Randy Hunter, C - 4/6 fg, 2/4 ft, 4 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 pf, 10 pts
55-Jeremiah Slowik, F - 1/3 fg, 2 reb, 1 ast, 2 pts
2-Justin Jimenez, G - 1/1 fg, 3 pts
team rebounds: 9
Totals: 31/59 fg (.525), 10/21 ft (.476), 39 reb, 18 ast, 2 blk, 4 stl, 16 pf, 77 pts
3-pt fg (5): Benson 2, Pinkard, Abidoye, Jimenez
Turnovers (10): Burtley 4, Benson 2, Faiivae 2, Gray, Abidoye
Halftime Score: Ventura 40, Oxnard 28
Updated Records: Ventura (#12-South) 19-6 overall, 4-1 in WSC-N; Oxnard 9-13 overall, 2-3 in WSC-N
Oxnard trailed by just 3 at 59-56 with 5:45 left, but the Ventura defense held the Condors scoreless for the next 5 minutes as the Pirates pulled away
