State Title Finally Goes to Ventura

When the moment finally came, the one he had hoped for the past two years, Philip Mathews was lifted on the shoulder of his players and pumped his fists triumphantly in the air.

His smile told the story. No going home this time empty-handed, no thinking about what had gone wrong. No unfulfilled expectations.

His Ventura College men’s basketball team took care of that with an 80-61 victory over West Valley to win the state junior college championship Saturday night before 5,000 at the Bren Events Center.

“I’m feeling like when my son was born,” said Mathews, whose son, Jordan, is 8 months old.

The victory ended two years of frustration for the Pirates, who entered the past two championship games as favorites but lost both times.

But this team, a completely revamped club with only one returning player, made up for those crushing blows and gave Ventura its third State title. The Pirates were champions in 1952 and 1987.

Ventura (37-1) also equaled a school-single season record for victories. It was the second title-game appearance for West Valley (32-3) and its second disappointment. The Vikings lost to Cerritos in 1992.

Mathews said he thought from the start of the season that this Ventura team could challenge for the title.

“This year we expected to win,” Mathews said in a hoarse voice. “Ventura College always expects to get to the final eight. You get to the final two, you expect to win, too.”

After halftime Saturday, there was little doubt of that. But it took a while.

The Pirates led, 38-28, at intermission and 55-48 with 8 minutes 3 seconds to play when point guard Rafer Alston ignited the final push with two splendid plays.

Alston, named the tournament’s most valuable player, scored on a dribble drive to give Ventura a 57-48 advantage with 7:45 to play. He then stole the inbounds pass, sank a layup, was fouled on the play and converted the free throw to put the Pirates ahead, 60-48. He finished with 11 points.

“(Ventura) played with great intensity, great character,” Mathews said. “We saw the VC team tonight. We played great defense.”

West Valley had scored 100 or more points in its last two games but Ventura held the Vikings to 43.1% shooting (22 of 51) and 16.7% from three-point range (3 of 18).

The Pirates, conversely, shot much better than in their quarterfinal and semifinal victories. They attacked successfully from outside, making eight of 18 (44.4%) three-point baskets, and shot 52.7% from the field (29 of 55).

Forward Damian Cantrell led Ventura with 16 points and Lance Fay added 13.

“If we can get our outside game going, we are tough to beat,” Mathews said.

West Valley--and the entire state--found that out Saturday.