Three-Point Accuracy Puts Ventura Away

The Ventura College basketball program may be back, but it has a long way to go to regain its former dominance.

With 14 freshman on the roster, the Pirates are simply striving for respectability.

Moorpark capitalized on Ventura’s inexperience and made eight of 11 three-pointers in the first half to cruise to a 97-76 Western State Conference Northern Division victory Saturday night at Ventura.

“The zone they used takes away the inside game but I thought that would be to our advantage,” Moorpark Coach Remy McCarthy said. “We have good outside shooters. Sometimes the shots just don’t go in, but today they did.”

Sophomore guard Dan Galvanoni scored 19 points and Brian Smith and O.J. Thomas each added 16 for the Raiders (17-6, 2-1 in conference play). In all, Moorpark hit nine of 15 three-point attempts.

“We think we can win every game,” McCarthy said. “It sounds like a cliche, but every game is a must-win game right now. All of the teams in this conference are capable of winning on any given night.”

Trevor Lorz added 15 points and eight assists for Moorpark, including three three-point baskets. Alan Case had 13 points, including back-to-back three-pointers that gave the Raiders a 6-4 lead they would never relinquish.

Moorpark, ranked fifth in Southern California, closed the first half with a 7-0 run, sparked by Simmagin Smith, who blocked a shot by Ventura’s James Clemons, grabbed the ball and ended the ensuing fastbreak with a dunk. Smith dished to Kenny Plummer for another transition basket that gave the Raiders a 49-37 halftime lead.

Forward Desmond Penigar led the Pirates (12-8, 1-2) with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Center Brooke Ewing and Clemons each added 15 points for Ventura, ranked 18th in Southern California.

Moorpark gradually increased its lead throughout the second half.

After a technical foul on Ventura Coach Greg Winslow, Smith sank two free throws and a jump shot to give the Raiders their biggest lead, 83-53 with 8:15 remaining.

“We normally need to keep teams under 70 points to win,” McCarthy said.

Ventura, in its first season after serving a two-year probation for recruiting violations, was one of the best programs in the state, winning 12 consecutive WSC titles from 1986 to 1997.