Big Second Half Lifts VC past Desert for Classic Crown

The Pirates' men's basketball team used a 55-point second half to race past College of the Desert Saturday in the championship game of the Santa Barbara Classic, 93-71. Adrian McIntyre earned his second Tournament MVP award in as many weeks with a 19-points while Anthony McIntyre was named All-Tournament with 20. Shulton Tobin, Caleb Geisendorfer and Anthony Garza were all in double-figures with 16, 12, and 11 points, respectively, for VC (12-0).

The Pirates and Roadrunners were locked in a close battle throughout the opening 20 minutes. Upstart COD held a lead for much of the opening half, with VC leading 4-3, and then taking a 19-18 edge on Tobin's jumper with 10:18 left in the half. Desert moved back ahead 26-21 before Jelani Bell scored five straight to knot the score with 6:58 on the clock. Geisendorfer scored a deuce for a Pirate advantage, and Adrian Mc. hit a free throw and scored a bucket to extend the lead. Geisendorfer hit a triple and Adrian Mc. scored a bucket on a putback to move the Ventura edge to seven points, 36-29, before the Roadrunners cam storming back with an 8-0 run. A 3-point play by Desert in the final minute of the half gave them a 40-38 lead at intermission.

Desert continued to hold a small advantage well into the second half. Ventura trailed 48-44 with 16:18 remaining before Anthony Mc. and Tobin each hit from range to give the Pirates the lead for good, 50-48, with 14:25 on the clock. Tobin made a free throw and a field goal, and Anthony Mc. scored on an old-fashioned 3-point play as Ventura's advantage grew to 56-50. Adrian Mc. and Anthony Mc. sandwiched field goals around a Desert score, and Anthony Mc. scored again on another drive for a 62-52 lead at the 9:39 mark. VC continued to build on their lead, including a stretch of 1:09 during which they made three straight three's, two by Tobin around a triple from Anthony Mc.  The Pirates led 88-62 at the 3:39 mark and cruised in for the 93-71 win.

Adrian Mc. added five rebounds, four assists, four steals and a blocked shot to his MVP-winning performance while Anthony Mc. had eight boards and seven dimes. Tobin pulled in a team-high nine rebounds as the Pirates held a 52-36 advantage on the glass. 

The Pirates next hit the hardwoods on Friday Dec. 17 at the COS Wyndham/Mannon Classic at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia. VC will first take on Columbia College at 5:00 pm.