#7 Ventura (8-2) had little trouble with nost LA Valley's press, shooting 66% and committing just 21 turnovers in a 103-90 win over the Monarchs (4-6) Wednesday night in a WSC Crossover game.
Five Pirates scored in double figures, led by Ctr Danny Tavares, who had 24 pts, 14 rebs and 6 blocks. SG Eric Dunbar, SF Danny Benson, PG Troy Watson and PF Tavaris Gilbert also reached double figures, and Ventura totalled 13 blocked shots.
Valley began the game by going ahead, 4-2, on baskets by PF Max Hutchinson and SG Gustalvo Valle. But then Tavares led an 11-1 run, scoring 6 points, grabbing 3 rebounds and swatting away 3 shots as Ventura went ahead, 15-5.
Valley rallied to cut the margin to just a point at 35-34 after a pair of steals by SG Vernon Alexander, but Ventura pushed the lead back to 12 at 48-36 just before halftime. A basket by Ctr Terrance Palmer just before the horn pulled the Monarchs to within 9 at 50-41 at the break.
When the second half began, Valley came out blazing. The Monarchs made their first 7 shots of the half, going on a 14-0 run to pull out to a 55-50 lead.
But then Ventura answered with an 18-3 run to take the lead again and go up by 10 points at 68-58. From there, the Pirates slowly pulled away, building a margin of 16 points after a three by SG Andre Jamerson with just over 4 minutes left.
In addition to Tavares, top performers for Ventura included Dunbar (15 pts, 3 asts, 3 steals), Benson (14 pts, 3 asts, 2 stl), Watson (14 pts, 5 rebs, 3 asts, 3 stl) and Gilbert (11 pts, 9 rebs, 6 asts, 3 blk).
For Valley, Alexander led the way with 18 pts. Hutchinson added 16 and Valle had 14 plus 3 steals. SF Gemel Coleman had a strong all-around game with 12 pts, 7 rebs and 4 asts. PG Andre Bright had 11 pts and 4 asts. Ctr Demetrius Malone had 10 pts and 7 rebs off the bench while starting Ctr Terrance Palmer had 7 pts and a team-best 10 rebs.
box score
Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 7 pm
at the Monarch Sports Pavilion, Valley Glen
WSC Crossover game
Ventura Pirates 103:
2-Trevor Breland, PG - 2/6 fg, 2/4 ft, 3 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl, 3 pf, 6 pts
4-Danny Tavares, C - 11/17 fg, 2/4 ft, 14 reb, 1 ast, 6 blk, 2 stl, 2 pf, 24 pts
5-Danny Benson, SF - 6/10 fg, 2/3 ft, 1 reb, 3 ast, 2 blk, 2 stl, 4 pf, 14 pts
11-Andre Jamerson, SG - 2/2 fg, 1/2 ft, 1 reb, 6 ast, 1 pf, 6 pts
20-Anthony Pimble, PF - 3/4 fg, 1/1 ft, 2 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk, 4 pf, 7 pts
55-Tavaris Gilbert, F - 5/7 fg, 1/3 ft, 9 reb, 6 ast, 3 blk, 2 pf, 11 pts
42-Troy Watson, G - 5/7 fg, 4/6 ft, 5 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 2 pf, 14 pts
30-Tommy Young, F - 0/1 fg, 0 pts
15-Eric Dunbar, G - 7/9 fg, 1/2 ft, 2 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 2 pf, 15 pts
22-Robert Wright, G - 2/2 fg, 2/2 ft, 1 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 6 pts
team rebounds: 2
Totals: 43/65 fg (.662), 16/27 ft (.593), 40 reb, 30 ast, 13 blk, 11 stl, 20 pf, 103 pts
3-pt fg (1): Jamerson
Turnovers (21): Tavares 4, Watson 4, Benson 2, Pimble 2, Gilbert 2, Dunbar 2, Breland, Jamerson, Wright, team 2
LA Valley Monarchs 90:
10-Shon Williams, PG - 0/1 fg, 1 reb, 1 pf, 0 pts
12-Gustalvo Valle, SG - 6/11 fg, 3 stl, 3 pf, 14 pts
23-Gemel Coleman, SF - 5/10 fg, 1/4 ft, 7 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 3 pf, 12 pts
30-Terrance Palmer, C - 2/9 fg, 3/4 ft, 10 reb, 1 stl, 2 pf, 7 pts
33-Max Hutchinson, PF - 6/11 fg, 2/5 ft, 4 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 16 pts
3-Andre Bright, G - 5/11 fg, 1/3 ft, 3 reb, 4 ast, 4 pf, 11 pts
24-Vernon Alexander, G - 8/16 fg, 0/2 ft, 1 blk, 2 stl, 3 pf, 18 pts
22-Michael Nmvoya, F - 1/1 fg, 1 ast, 1 pf, 2 pts
35-Demetrius Malone, C - 4/10 fg, 2/3 ft, 7 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 2 pf, 10 pts
21-Ron Holden, F - 0/1 fg, 1 reb, 1 stl, 2 pf, 0 pts
team rebounds: 5
Totals: 37/81 fg (.457), 9/21 ft (.429), 38 reb, 12 ast, 2 blk, 11 stl, 21 pf, 90 pts
3-pt fg (7): Valle 2, Hutchinson 2, Alexander 2, Coleman
Turnovers (20): Coleman 4, Bright 4, Williams 2, Valle 2, Alexander 2, Nmvoya 2, Palmer, Hutchinson, Malone, Holden
Halftime Score: Ventura 50, LA Valley 41
Updated Records: Ventura (#7-South, #12-California) 8-2, LA Valley 4-6
