Ventura Manages to Hold Court This Time, 106-100

Not this time . . . but was it ever close.

The Cuesta College men’s basketball team, which last season handed Ventura its first Western State Conference North Division loss in four seasons, came into town Wednesday night with another upset in mind.

The Cougars made it close at the end but the Pirates (15-0, 3-0), ranked No. 1 in the state, managed to hold on for a 106-100 victory.

It was the 55th home victory against one defeat for Ventura the past four seasons. Cuesta (19-7, 2-1), ranked 17th in the state, is the only team to beat the Pirates at home during that span--a 72-71 stunner last Feb. 9.

The Cougars pushed Ventura (25-0, 3-0) to the limit this time but the Pirates, who have 10 freshmen on their 12-man roster, kept their composure.

“One thing for our young club--they didn’t panic,” said Philip Mathews, Ventura’s coach. “That’s something I didn’t think they had (in them) because we haven’t had a close game for a while.”

The Cougars led early in the game but it soon looked like another Ventura blowout when the Pirates pulled ahead, 43-24, with 5 minutes 54 seconds left in the half.

Ventura led, 69-50, early in the second half before Cuesta battled back.

The Cougars pulled to within 103-100 on a three-point basket by guard Charles Thomas with 12 seconds left and had a chance to cut the deficit even more when guard Shane Flanagan stole the inbounds pass.

However, Ventura guard Jamal Cobbs stripped the ball from Flanagan and was fouled with seven seconds to play. Cobbs made the first of two free throws and missed the second, but Pirate center Curtis Ganes grabbed the rebound and fed Cobbs, who was fouled with four seconds left and made one of two free throws.

Although those free throws helped Ventura down the stretch, the Pirates shot miserably from the line (18 of 35, 51.4%). Poor free-throw shooting has been perhaps the weakest facet of Ventura’s game this season. The Pirates entered the game at 63.0%.

“You put the game away by making free throws when the other team is making a run at you,” Mathews said.

The Pirates tried their darndest to bury Cuesta with a 9-2 run to start the second half, sparked by a jumper and a three-point basket by Lance Fay on consecutive possessions to take a 65-44 advantage.

Ventura increased the lead to 73-54 on a dunk by Ganes with 14:59 remaining but Paul Edmondson and Jarrett Wendt rallied the Cougars.

Edmondson scored six consecutive points during one stretch to cut the Ventura lead to 76-64 and Wendt scored 12 of his 14 points in the half, some on driving hook shots.

Seven Pirates scored in double figures, led by Fay’s 23 points and guard Rafer Alston’s 15.

Flanagan scored 28 points, including 17 in the second half, and Colin Bryant, who had 16 points in the first half, finished with 21 for Cuesta.