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Ventura Unable to Mount Comeback in WPH Tourney

The VC men's basketball team fell into a big hole early and were unable to mount a comeback Friday in dropping a 93-61 decision to Antelope Valley on the second day of the We Play Hard Tournament. Bo Delinsek had a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds while Elijah Brown netted 14 points to lead the way for the Pirates (1-1). Isaiah Dudley came off the bench to total 12 points.

Pirate freshman Elijah Brown totaled 14 points Friday in VC's setback against Antelope Valley in the We Play Hard Tournament.
Pirate freshman Elijah Brown totaled 14 points Friday in VC's setback against Antelope Valley in the We Play Hard Tournament.
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November 1, 2024

The VC men's basketball team fell into a big hole early and were unable to mount a comeback Friday in dropping a 93-61 decision to Antelope Valley on the second day of the We Play Hard Tournament. Bo Dolinsek had a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds while Elijah Brown netted 14 points to lead the way for the Pirates (1-1). Isaiah Dudley came off the bench to total 12 points.

The Pirates were snakebit early as the Marauders moved out to a 23-0 lead. Dudley got Ventura on the board with a lay-up with 13:02 left in the first half. Jeremiah Wilson made one of two free throws, and Dudley scored his second field goal for a 33-5 deficit midway through the half. The game remained even from that point as Brown hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to make it 56-35 at halftime.

VC maintained their effort in the second half, but made little progress. a charity shot by Dolinsek and Brown's triple at the 12:44 mark cut the deficit to 62-38, beginning a 10-0 Pirate run. Cyrus Smith converted an old-fashioned 3-point play and Dolinsek nailed a long-ranger to pull Ventura to within 62-44.

Unfortunately, the Pirates could get no closer as AVC pulled away in the end for the 32-point decision.

Kevin Hymes contributed six points and four steals while Wilson added a half-dozen to the effort.

Ventura will host Riverside on Saturday Nov. 2 in the tournament finale. The Tigers are led by former VC mentor and Hall of Fame coach Phil Mathews, who won 10 Western State Conference titles and two state championships in his decade at the helm of the Pirates' ship from 1985-1995. Mathews, who is retiring at the end of this season, will be honored by the Pirates and many of his former players before the game.