VENTURA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STAR BASKETBALL GAMES : Pena Shots Fall to Drop North

Marques Pena of Royal High finally got some shots to fall in overtime of the Ventura County boys’ all-star basketball game at Ventura High on Friday night and as a result, the South defeated the North, 107-106.

Pena was slashing through the North defense all game, but had a hard time getting anything to drop until overtime, when he scored seven of his 18 points.

The South, which trailed, 65-53, at halftime, did not trail in overtime as Pena made all three of his shots from the field.

His first basket was a layup from the left side and his second came from the right. Then he pulled up for an eight-foot jump shot in the lane to give the South a 104-100 lead with 1 minute 24 seconds left in overtime.

The North narrowed the gap to two points on a basket by Ventura’s Donte Lincoln, but Camarillo’s Josh Hill pushed the lead to 106-102 on two free throws with 52 seconds left.

Oxnard’s Dan Sweeney, who scored six of his 16 points in overtime, scored with 19 seconds left and Pena made one of two free throws with 14 seconds left.

Sweeney’s basket cut the North’s deficit to one with four seconds left, but the North couldn’t get off a shot after Pena missed a one-and-one free throw.

Pero Vasiljevic of Simi Valley scored 21 points for the South and Brian Laibow of Agoura added 20.

Lukman Dotson of Santa Clara scored 22 points for the North and Lincoln added 17.