Wilson, Moorpark Whip Oxnard in Emotional WSC Matchup, 86-67

Valentine’s Day is just a couple of weeks away, but don’t count on the Oxnard and Moorpark college basketball players exchanging any cards.

In a physical Western State Conference game between the Northern Division rivals at Santa Clara High on Wednesday night, the action was rough and the “trash talk” plentiful.

On a couple of occasions, the contest almost got out of the officials’ control, but no one could control Moorpark freshman guard Damian Wilson, who led the Raiders to an 86-67 victory with a game-high total of 31 points.

Moorpark Coach Al Nordquist played the team psychologist before the game and it proved to be the boost that the Raiders, ranked seventh in the state, needed to beat the Condors. With the win, Moorpark also put a lock on second place in the division, only a half-game behind Ventura, after the first round of games against divisional opponents.

“Coach (Nordquist) got us riled up and ready to play,” said Wilson, who turned in his second-highest offensive production game of the season. “Coach said they would play us real physical, but they talked too much and that really got us going.”

Oxnard (13-12, 2-2 in division play) had the ball stolen on its first three possessions of the game, and trailed 5-0, before settling down to play.

Guard Shawn Talley connected on two consecutive three-point shots midway through the first half to bring Oxnard to within 20-19. But Wilson came up with his own pair of three-point baskets just before halftime to give Moorpark a 49-40 lead.

The talk and the tempers escalated in the second half and Wilson, who was always in the center of the action, had to be benched by his coaches twice in the half to help him keep his emotions and his fists under control.

With six minutes left, Wilson helped close the door on Oxnard, once again with two consecutive long-range three-point shots, giving the Raiders a 77-64 lead.