Montgomery, Moorpark Make Conference Call

Who is the best men’s basketball player in the Western State Conference?

Guard Devin Montgomery of Moorpark College is pretty sure he knows.

“I just wanted to make sure we won the title and showed everybody who the [most valuable player] is,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery, from Alemany High, was talking about himself after sparking the Raiders over Ventura, 83-70, in a WSC Northern Division game Wednesday night at Ventura.

The 6-foot sophomore transfer from Duquesne scored 33 points and the Raiders (21-5, 8-1 in division play) clinched their second consecutive division championship.

Ventura (21-8, 6-3) had a chance to tie Moorpark for first place with one game remaining, but the Pirates faded midway through the second half.

Montgomery scored 23 points in the second half, many on layups after penetrating the defense.

Moorpark Coach Remy McCarthy is backing Montgomery’s MVP claim.

“He has been doing it all [season],” McCarthy said. “He’s the best player in the conference. It’s the first time I’ve said that ‘cause I didn’t want to give anyone billboard material.”

Montgomery, who came into the game averaging 21.6 points, third-best in the conference, went to work after teammate Lester Strong fouled out with 6:08 to play. Strong was averaging 16.6 points, but finished with eight and was held to a free throw in the second half.

Moorpark, ranked No. 5 in the state, led, 67-62, when Strong went out. Montgomery helped the Raiders pull away, scoring eight of the team’s final 18 points.

Ventura, ranked No. 10, trailed most of the first half but rallied for a 37-37 halftime deadlock.

Desmond Penigar and Alhaji Mohammed each scored 10 points in the half for the Pirates.

But 6-4 swingman Trevor Lorz, who at 200 pounds gave away 40 to Penigar, made it tough for the 6-7 forward to work inside. Penigar entered the game with the second-best scoring average in the WSC at 27.9, but finished with 18 points.

The Pirates committed 20 turnovers, including several while trying to streak down the court after missed shots by Moorpark.

“We got steals early and we got happy and tried to fastbreak,” Penigar said. “We ended up turning the ball over.”

Ventura led, 52-48, on a turnaround jumper by Penigar with 14:38 to play. But Moorpark responded with a 9-0 run capped by Montgomery’s seven consecutive points, including a three-point basket from the left wing, for a 57-52 lead.

Point guard T.K. Reed, formerly of Sylmar, had 13 points for Moorpark and forward Brian Smith scored 12 points.

Mohammed, a freshman guard, had 15 points for Ventura and backup freshman forward Kyle Lassiter scored 12 points.