Ventura’s Jessie Shares State MVP Honors

Brandon Jessie of Ventura College and Jamie Townsend of Columbia have been named California junior college men’s basketball co-players of the year.

Jessie, a 6-foot-5 sophomore forward from Edison High in Huntington Beach, helped the Pirates reach the state title game in each of his two seasons.

Ventura lost to Long Beach City, 63-61, in this year’s final and to Columbia, 97-88, in last year’s.

Jessie averaged 22.9 points and 10.9 rebounds during the regular season.

Townsend, a 6-3 sophomore guard, averaged 18.5 points during the regular season and made 110 three-point baskets.

Also named to the all-state team were Danny Prince of Antelope Valley and Joey Ramirez of Ventura.

Prince, a 6-1 sophomore guard from Quartz Hill High, averaged 23.1 points and led the state with 171 three-point baskets. He was most valuable player in the Foothill Conference.

Ramirez, a 5-10 sophomore guard from Santa Paula High, averaged 15.9 points and 5.7 assists. He and Jessie were co-most valuable players in the Western State Conference North Division.

Volleyball

The Harvard-Westlake High volleyball team, touted as the top team in the area, suffered a blow when senior Doug Park quit the team last week.

Park, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter who would have been one of five returning starters, surprised teammates and Coach Jess Quiroz with the decision.

“Everyone was pretty upset because there was no notice whatsoever,” Quiroz said. “No one had any idea this was going to happen.”

Running

The Police Activity League is sponsoring 1K, 5K and 10K runs March 20, starting at Cal State Northridge. Races start at 8:30 a.m. There is a $15 entry fee. For students, seniors (55-and-older) and families with three or more runners, the entry fee is $10 per person.

Information: 818-989-8406.

Softball

Tamara Ivie, a first baseman for the Cal State Northridge softball team, has been named the Western State Athletic Conference player of the week.

Ivie was five for five with seven runs batted in and five runs scored last week, raising her batting average from .325 to .400. Ivie hit a grand slam during the Matadors’ doubleheader sweep of Missouri.