VENTURA COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : Moorpark Keeps Head Above Water, 57-50

On a night when one of the Twin Towers wobbled, the other stood firm and helped Moorpark College defeat Kings River, 57-50, Friday night in a first-round game of the Ventura men’s basketball tournament.

Nick Foster scored 15 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for Moorpark (3-1) but his twin brother, Paul, managed only two points and eight rebounds.

The 6-foot-8 forwards each scored in double figures in the Raiders’ previous three games.

Sophomore guard David Fennel picked up the slack and scored 19 points for Moorpark, sinking three three-point baskets.

“(Kings River) really packed it in (defensively),” said Al Nordquist, Moorpark coach. “They weren’t going to give up anything inside. . . . (Fennel) hit those threes when we needed them.”

Moorpark led, 25-10, in the first half but had to hang on for the victory when Kings River (1-3) scored six consecutive points to pull to within 53-49 with 1 minute 12 seconds left in the game.

Point guard Jaime Jaquez had 10 points for Moorpark, which will play Antelope Valley in the semifinals tonight at 6.

Maurice Blanding had nine points for Kings River.

Ventura 132, Compton 58--The Pirates (4-0) opened defense of their tournament with a blowout victory.

Ventura, ranked sixth in the state, has scored 100 or more points in every game this season.

The Pirates toyed with Compton (0-3) and dazzled the crowd with no-look passes, dunks and behind-the-back passes. Eight Pirates scored in double digits, including Gerald Zimmerman who had a game-high 17 points.

Charles Woodard had 16 points for Ventura and Hakeen Ward added 15.

Samuel Reese led Compton with 12 points and teammate Marquis Slemmons had 11.

Ventura will face Santa Barbara in the semifinals tonight at 8. The Vaqueros defeated Contra Costa, 79-61.

Antelope Valley 86, Hancock 74--The Marauders (3-3) rallied behind guards Orville Turner and Brandon McIntire.

Turner scored 29 points and McIntire had 18. Turner also had 11 rebounds.

The Marauders shot 57% from the field (28 of 49) and 71% from the free-throw line (20 of 28).

Guard Kenny Evans scored 19 points for Hancock (2-2).