GLENDALE COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : Beating Compton Becoming Habit for Undefeated Ventura, 86-62

The Ventura College basketball team, which already had beaten Compton three times this season, made sure the fourth time wasn’t the charm for the Tartars.

Led by their forward tandem of Brandon Jessie and Calvin Curry, the Pirates beat Compton, 86-62, Thursday night in a first-round game of the Glendale College tournament.

“I hate to play a team four times in a row,” Ventura Coach Philip Mathews said. “You don’t want the law of averages to catch up to you.”

Mathews need not have worried. Jessie and Curry obviously haven’t studied that law.

Jessie, a 6-5 freshman, and Curry, a 6-6 sophomore, each scored 17 points in the first half as the Pirates (14-0) dominated play and took a 47-29 halftime lead.

Compton (7-9) didn’t get closer than 16 points in the second half.

“Overall, what can you say?” Mathews said. “It’s a 24-point win. We’re 14-0, but there’s room for improvement.’

That assessment includes Curry and Jessie.

“I’m pleased with the way they played offensively,” Mathews said of the duo. “I’m not pleased with the way they played defensively, but that’s coming.’

Compton Coach Ernie Carr has seen his enough of the duo to gather a strong impression.

“I still think Jessie is the anchor of that team,” Carr said. “He’s got the ability to hit the 15-foot shot, get fouled and make his free throws. I think he makes it possible for Curry to spot up for the outside shot because of his inside presence.”

Curry did plenty of spotting up outside, making nine of 16 three-point shots en route to a team-high 29 points along with seven rebounds.

Jessie finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

The tandem scored 26 of Ventura’s first 33 points as the top-ranked team in the state built a 33-15 advantage. Curry hit five of eight three-point shots in the half, while Jessie was deadly inside, hitting four medium-range jump shots and all seven of his free throws.

“There’s no question they’re better than us,” Carr said. “When a team beats you four times in a row, they’re obviously better. But I definitely think given certain conditions, we can play with them. We have to play our best.”

Compton, plagued by quick shots and turnovers, did not play close to its best in the first half.

“The margin for error is not very high,” Carr said. “They have such good balance. And the three-pointer becomes such a big thing psychologically.”

The Tartars were led by forward Ron Wynne with 16 points.

Ventura’s backcourt combination of guard Stephane Brown and Joey Ramirez was steady and controlled the action.

The versatile Brown had eight points, nine assists eight rebounds and three steals. Ramirez had 12 points, six assists and three steals.

The Pirates will play L.A. Harbor in a semifinal tonight at 6:30. The Seahawks edged L.A. City, 88-85, in another first-round game.

Ventura beat Harbor in a semifinal of the Moorpark tournament, 81-71, earlier this season.