Behind a 24-point performance by Kam'Ron Cigar, the Pirates' men's basketball team came out on top of another close game Monday, 71-65 over visiting Los Angeles Pierce. Jeremiah Wilson produced a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds and Bo Dolinsek netted 13 points in the triumph for VC. Cigar also handed out a team-high five assists and grabbed four steals.
The Pirates had a hot start, scoring the first eight points of the game. Cigar and Dolinsek each hit from three and Dolinsek scored inside off a pass from Kevin Hymes for the early advantage. The Brahmas came back, however, scoring the next 11 points before Cigar hit another long-rang bomb to knot the count at 11 with 12:42 left in the first half. William Caceres scored a three and Cigar hit from beyond the arc on the next possession for a 17-16 Pirate lead. Cigar made another triple and scored a lay-up before Wilson scored on a dunk from Cigar's dime for a 2118 VC edge midway through the period.
While the Pirates held the lead for the remainder of the half, they were unable to pull away. Wilson's three with 1:36 on the clock opened up a five-point advantage, 36-31, and Brandon Turner made two free throws on the next possession before Pierce hit five straight to end the half down 38-36.
The Brahmas made it an 11-0 run around intermission with two three's to open the second half for a 42-38 lead. Turner ended the VC skid with a free throw and Elijah Brown's three knotted the score at 42. The teams briefly went back-and-forth before Cigar made two free shots to give the Pirates the lead for good, 49-48, with 12:21 remaining. Dolinsek followed with two charity tosses, then made a lay-up to answer a Brahma score.
Cigar hit a three at the 7:04 mark to stretch the lead to 59-52 as VC held the slim lead for the rest of the contest.
Caceres ended the game with five assists and Hymes dropped four dimes for Ventura, who had 20 assists as a team on the night.
Ventura next hosts Cuesta on Saturday Feb. 15 at 5:00 pm.