COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : No. 1 Ventura Squeaks Past No. 5 Sequoias

Rafer Alston made two free throws with 15 seconds left to help the Ventura College men’s basketball team hold on to a 70-67 victory over Sequoias in a first-round game of the Hancock tournament Tuesday night.

Ventura, the No. 1-ranked team in the state, had a 43-25 lead over fifth-ranked Sequoias at halftime, but saw its advantage cut to a point on three occasions in the second half.

Ventura (16-0) took a 66-63 lead on Gerald Zimmerman’s put-back of a missed shot, but Sequoias countered with a basket before Hakeen Ward made a shot to put Ventura ahead, 68-65.

After Sequoias cut the Pirates’ lead to 68-67, Alston was fouled with 15 seconds left, setting the stage for his free throws.

Sequoias (10-3) missed two three-point shots before time expired.

Zimmerman and Ward led Ventura with 16 points each and Alston had 11. Curtis Ganes added 10 points and seven rebounds for the Pirates.

Ventura plays third-ranked Cerritos (18-0) in a semifinal tonight.

In other men’s basketball games:

Moorpark 75, Cypress 71--Jaime Jacquez scored 19 points and Leonard Colon added 16 for Moorpark in a first-round game in the Canyons tournament.

Nick Foster added 13 points for Moorpark (10-5) and Rod Stinson scored 10.

Canyons 108, Trade Tech 73--Kwesi Fulton had 25 points and seven rebounds to lead Canyons (6-8) to a first-round blowout in its own tournament. Reserve Marcus Miller added a season-high 17 points.

Antelope Valley 92, West L.A. 65--Orville Turner had 31 points and eight rebounds to lead Antelope Valley to a first-round victory in the Canyons tournament.

WOMEN

Canyons 110, San Diego Mesa 63--Stephanie Labor had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead Canyons in the opening round of the Fullerton tournament.

Carlissa Hamagaki added 17 points, while Kyetra Brown contributed 14 points and 16 assists for the Cougars (13-3), who lead the state in scoring.

Jennifer Sprague scored 13 points, Cathy Noriega 10 for Canyons.

American River 71, Valley 66--Maria Fulay had 19 points for Valley in the first round of the Fullerton tournament.

Spokane (Wash.) 66, Moorpark 45--Janette Ortiza scored a game-high 31 points, but host Moorpark was outscored by 25 points in the second half of the nonconference game.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: C9