Pirates Take First Road Test

MEN'S BASKETBALL:  Traveling for their first road test of the season, the Pirates' men's basketball team passed with an 80-74 victory at Los Angeles Valley College Wednesday night in Valley Glen. Vondel Faniel led the way with 16 points and 11 rebounds while Anthony Morman also netted a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards. Ivan Dooley and Jon McMurry added 16 and 15 points, respectively, for Ventura (3-1) while Martel Tyler was the fifth Pirate in double-figures with 10 points and five assists.

The Monarchs jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead behind hot shooting from the perimeter in the game's first three minutes. The Pirates put together a run of their own over the next three minutes, taking a 16-14 lead seven minutes into the game. The rest of the half was even as the teams sea-sawed back and forth before VC took a 39-36 lead into the break.

The second half was a dog fight despite the fact that the Pirate led all the way home. Ventura foul trouble and missed assignments, as well as a stubborn opponent kept the contest close. The Pirates strung their lead out to as many as nine points on two occasions in the final 20 minutes, only to have LA Valley come back with runs of their own. VC led by nine with 8:55 remaining, only to score two points over the next six minutes, allowing the Monarchs back into the contest. Valley cut the lead to two, 67-65, but VC closed with a 13-9 run from the foul line and the paint.

Ventura will take a week off before hitting the court for their next game, Thursday Nov. 21 against Long Beach at the Irvine Valley Tournament. Game time is slated for 8:00 pm.