Balanced Effort Leads to Pirate Win

The VC men's basketball team had six players score eight or more points, five in double figures, as the Pirates handled Los Angeles Valley 82-60 Saturday in their final non-conference game of the season. Kam'Ron Cigar led the way with 17 points while Jeremiah Wilson and Jerimiyah Smith each contributed 14. Kevin Anigbogu and Snookey Wigington tallied 13 and 12 points, respectively, and Baron Bellamy netted eight in the win for Ventura (13-3).

The Pirates trailed 11-10 five minutes into the game when Smith's dunk gave VC the lead for good. Following a three-minute scoring drought, Smith followed with a made lay-up and then assisted a Wigington three as Ventura led 17-11 at the 12:06 mark of the first half. Wilson made a 3-pointer, Smith turned Bellamy's steal into two and Dabe Princewill made a lay-up with 8:41 on the clock to complete a 14-0 run. Wilson hit two more triples and Wigington scored from range as the Pirates led 36-27 at halftime.

Ventura slowly pulled away from the Monarchs in the second half. Smith dunked a Wigington alley-oop at the 12:16 mark and followed with another lay-up from a Wigington dime to open up a 20-point margin, 57-37. Cigar made a jumper with 8:13 remaining to stretch the lead to 23 points, 65-42, and Smith had another dunk for a 67-43 lead less than a minute later. Wilson's dunk made it 73-48 at the 6:22 mark and the Pirates cruised in for the 82-60 triumph.

Wigington finished the game with 10 assists for the double-double and Smith led the effort on the glass with nine rebounds. Smith and Anigbogu each pulled in three steals.

Ventura next opens Western State Conference play on Wednesday Jan. 7 at Los Angeles Pierce. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 pm in Woodland Hills.