Ventura’s Neal Finds Valley a Soft Touch in 101-80 Victory

Ventura College basketball players have the words “we play hard” emblazoned across the back of their warm-up jerseys.

Perhaps Ventura should take it a step further and warn opposing teams about Lester Neal by printing “I play hardest” across the back of his.

Saturday night, Neal had “the feel,” pouring in a season-high 35 points and grabbing a game-high 17 rebounds to lead visiting Ventura to a 101-80 Western State Conference interdivision victory over Valley.

Neal, a 6-6 sophomore center from Chicago who accentuates his rebounds with an intimidating scream, was unstoppable in the first half, hitting 11 of 12 shots while scoring 23 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. Overall, Neal was successful on 16 of 22 shots.

“Last game I was sick with the flu and I had a slow game,” said Neal, who scored 14 points against West Los Angeles on Thursday. “So it was important for me to come back.”

The Pirates (19-4) used the inside-outside game to near perfection. If Neal wasn’t open inside, the ball was kicked outside to the perimeter, where Ventura connected, including seven three-point baskets.

“It’s a give-and-take situation,” Ventura assistant coach Roy Gilmore said. “If you throw the ball inside, it leaves the guys on the perimeter open and you can kick it back outside.”

Valley (11-10) made it interesting for 20 minutes, trailing just 62-53 at halftime despite Neal’s outburst and the fact Ventura shot 60% from the field.

But Ventura began to pull away in the second half. The Pirates led, 76-63, with 10 minutes to play when Uba Satterfield scored seven consecutive points. After converting one of two free throws, Satterfield buried back-to-back three-point baskets and Ventura led, 83-63.

“I needed this game,” said Satterfield, who scored 15 points. “It’s been a while since I had a nice performance.”

Valley closed to within 10 when Rick Garrick (17 points) sank a three-point shot with just under six minutes left, but Ventura outscored the Monarchs, 13-2, the rest of the way.