Community Colleges : Ventura Rolls Past Rancho Santiago, 88-71

Rancho Santiago College took part in a bit of a reunion Wednesday, but the only person happy about the meeting was Ventura’s Leo Parker.

Parker, a former Tustin High School star, scored 31 points to help Ventura to an 88-71 victory over Rancho Santiago in the second round of the Southern California regional basketball playoffs in front of about 750 at Ventura.

“It was kind of special playing against guys I played against in high school,” Parker said. “We practiced hard all week, and we knew we were in for a tough game.”

Parker dominated the first half with 19 points. He had a key three-point play in the second half to help stop a Rancho Santiago comeback.

Parker, a 6-foot-6 forward, was 10 of 16 from the field and 11 of 13 from the free throw line. He led Ventura this season with a 16.6-points average.

Ventura (27-5) led, 49-39, at the half, but Rancho Santiago started a run with about 15 minutes left in the game.

Gene Altamirano scored a layup off a give-and-go pass from Matt Lien and was fouled. He made the free throw and the Dons trailed, 62-57, with 12:29 left.

But Parker countered with a fallaway 10-foot jumper and was fouled. He made the free throw and Ventura was back up by eight with 12:06 left.

“We worked hard to try and stop Parker,” Rancho Santiago Coach Dana Pagett said. “But we couldn’t simulate how quick he gets up and down the court.”

Ventura led by 10 to 12 points the next 3 minutes before Rancho Santiago went cold from the field.

Lien, who had 17 points, scored on a short jumper with 9:03 left, but that was the last field goal of the game and season for Rancho Santiago. The Dons scored on seven free throws the rest of the way.

“After they cut the lead to five, we tightened up, played better defense and held them to one shot most of the time,” Ventura Coach Phil Mathews said.

Rick Fluckey added 26 and Reggie Betton 11 for Ventura. Parker had a game-high 11 rebounds.

Sophomore guard Chris Martin led Rancho Santiago (19-11) with 19 points and Altamirano had 11. Martin was 9 of 17 from the field, but had a key miss in the first half.

Ventura was ahead, 39-35, with 4:15 left in the half when Martin was headed for the basket on a fast break. But instead of trying for a layup, Martin, who is 6-3, went for the dunk. His try hit the heel of the rim and ball bounced away to Ventura, which got a three-point basket from Fluckey at the other end and led, 42-35.

“That was a big one,” Pagett said. “But I don’t want to blame Chris. He knows it wasn’t a smart play but it was in the first half. Like I said before, they were just the better team.”