HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

In another Ventura tournament semifinal:

Ventura 70, Channel Islands 55--Ventura (8-1) handed Channel Islands its first loss in eight games and advanced to tonight’s championship final at 8 against Thousand Oaks. Anthony McCurtis led Ventura with 22 points.

In other tournament games:

Taft 59, University 56--Johnny Williams scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to lead Taft into the Eagle Rock tournament final tonight at 7 against Palisades.

Monroe 63, Reseda 58--Dante Cain (12 points) and Kenyatta Niles (11) each hit two free throws in the final 14 seconds to send Monroe (11-2) to the championship game of the Birmingham tournament.

Monroe will play Birmingham, which beat Grant, 48-44, in overtime, in the final tonight at 8:45. The Braves rallied from an 18-point deficit in the second half.