Ventura Turns Back Glendale, 94-64

They come with their slingshots loaded, determined to slay the monster in orange and black, but leave without dragging the trophy home.

It was Glendale College’s turn to take aim at powerful Ventura on Thursday night, but the Vaqueros missed the mark badly and lost, 94-64, in a Western State Conference interdivisional game.

“They were just too good,” Glendale Coach Brian Beauchemin said. “They whipped us and beat us. You can only battle so much.”

Ventura (15-0), ranked No. 1 in the state, bolted to a 34-9 lead and was not seriously threatened. It was the 11th time the Pirates have scored at least 90 points.

The Pirates harassed Glendale with their relentless full-court press from the opening tipoff and controlled every facet of the game.

“I think our press bothers a lot of folks,” said Ventura Coach Philip Mathews.

“We are quick and we have some outstanding athletes that execute the press well.”

Ventura forced Glendale (8-4) into 25 turnovers, 14 in the first half.

The Pirates exploited their size advantage and quickness, especially when Beauchemin benched 6-foot-5 point guard Maurice Sowells early in the first half because he wasn’t happy with Sowells’ effort.

Without Sowells, who scored only a three-point basket, Glendale had trouble matching up and couldn’t contain Ventura on the boards.

The Pirates outrebounded Glendale, 46-22. Freshman forward Bobby Kiritopulos led Glendale with 10 rebounds. Damien Cantrell and Hakeem Ward each had eight for Ventura.

“Today’s game was geared toward athleticism and they are much better at it,” Beauchemin said.

The Pirates hit a cold spell midway through the first half, when Glendale went on a 15-4 run.

A rare four-point play by Joe Khouzam, who made a three-point basket and converted a free throw after he was fouled on the shot, and two free throws by Eric Scott pulled the Vaqueros to within 38-26 with 2 minutes 39 seconds before intermission.

Ventura went nearly five minutes without scoring while Glendale made its run.

The Pirates jumped out quickly in the second half and opened a 69-33 cushion with 13:15 to play, the last nine points coming on a three-point basket by Gerald Zimmerman and two by Shannon Taylor.

Zimmerman, one of 10 freshmen on the squad, scored 16 points to tie Glendale’s Charles Garcia and Eric Scott for game-high honors.

The Pirates got 15 each from former Canyon High standout Charles Woodard and Ward.