Ventura Streaks Past Long Beach

In a game of streaks, the Ventura College men’s basketball team kept its most important one going.

The Pirates hung on to defeat Long Beach City, 97-93, in a nonconference game Friday night at Long Beach.

Ventura (9-3) has won nine consecutive games.

This one, however, was hard-earned. The Pirates were forced to rally from a first-half deficit and hang on down the stretch.

“This was a good win for us,” said Ventura’s James Lee, who finished with 20 points and 16 rebounds.

“Now we’re just going to try to keep our record going and make another run at the state title.”

The game featured teams that have won the past three state championships. Long Beach defeated Ventura for the title in 1994 and the Pirates have won the past two seasons.

Long Beach (8-8) played without starting point guard Terrell McKnight, who was suspended for one game after committing a flagrant foul in the Vikings’ previous game.

Ventura opened the game without starting forward George Crawford, who sat out with an ankle injury until his replacement, Charles Dixon, who had 16 points and seven rebounds, fouled out with four minutes to play.

Crawford scored seven points down the stretch, giving the Pirates a 91-82 advantage with 1:20 to play.

The Vikings closed to within 96-93 with 10 seconds to play, but Crawford sank a free throw with five seconds left.

Ventura played catch-up through most of the first half.

The Pirates missed six of their first seven shots and did not take their first lead until nearly five minutes were gone.

Lee sparked Ventura with six of his points during a 2 1/2-minute span in which the Pirates outscored the Vikings, 11-2, to get to within 33-32 with eight minutes to go in the half.

Ventura took a 47-46 lead at halftime on a free throw by DaJuan Wilson.

The Pirates opened the second half with a 19-10 run and Long Beach never caught up.

Chris Clayton finished with 22 points and Isaac Taylor added 16 for Ventura.