COLLEGE BASKETBALL GLENDALE TOURNAMENT : Reserves Lead Ventura’s Charge to Title

The reserves are back for the Ventura College men’s basketball team.

A unit of five reserves, much like the one that played a key role in the Pirates’ drive to the semifinals of last year’s state championships, had failed to make an appearance this season until the title game of the Glendale College tournament Saturday night.

The debut of Coach Philip Mathews substitution pattern that involves replacing all five starters at once played an integral part in Ventura’s 99-77 win over El Camino.

The victory gave the Pirates (16-0) their fourth tournament title of the season and was their 34th victory in 35 games.

The black team--as Mathews affectionately calls the reserve unit--consists of guard Donyhel Johnson, swingmen Tracy Lundy and Reggie Butts, forward Tavvy Gatlin and center Alfred Kennedy.

Mathews substituted the reserves for Ventura’s starters three times against El Camino, and each time they delivered, outscoring the Warriors (9-7) by a total of 25-11.

“I hadn’t utilized them before because I wasn’t sure if they were ready,” Mathews said. “I didn’t feel like all of them were ready to play as hard as I wanted earlier this season, but they did a great job tonight. . . . Sitting on the bench can do things to a player’s intensity. They’ll be a regular part of our game for the rest of the season.”

The squad’s final shift might have been its least impressive as it outscored El Camino only 6-5 over a two-minute stretch late in the second half. But when Ventura’s well-rested starters returned, they went on an 11-0 run to turn a 10-point lead into an 89-68 advantage with four minutes to play.

Freshman Brandon Jessie scored nine of his team-high 26 points during the run. Jessie also had 12 rebounds in the game.

“Coach wanted to experiment a little bit with some of the new guys early in the season,” Johnson said. “But I think we showed tonight that we have some good athletes and we can do the job.”

Ventura’s win overshadowed a superb shooting performance by El Camino swingman Mark Johnson, who scored 44 points. The 6-foot-4 sophomore from St. Monica High made 17 of 22 shots from the field, including nine of 12 from three-point range. He also had seven assists.

Calvin Curry, who added 11 points for Ventura, and Jessie were named to the all-tournament team, and freshman point guard Joey Ramirez (seven points, four assists) was selected the most valuable player.

Glendale 84, L.A. Harbor 76--Glendale led by 16 points at halftime and by 19 early in the second half but had to withstand a late rush by Harbor in the third-place game. Harbor (10-6) narrowed its deficit to 73-70 with two minutes to play, but the Seahawks could draw no closer.