The Pirates' men's basketball team opened Western State Conference play Saturday afternoon with a 103-67 setback at Moorpark. Bo Dolinsek scored 17 points to lead VC and Jeremiah Wilson added 16. Kam'Ron Cigar was also in double-figures with 12 points.
Dolinsek scored a lay-up and hit a pair of three's for an 8-8 tie early in the contest. Kevin Hymes assisted a triple from Isaiah Dudley and a lay-up by Wilson to keep the game knotted at 13. A 12-2 run by the raiders, however, shifted momentum and Cigar's jumper pulled Ventura to within 25-17 with 13:32 remaining in the first half.
The VC offense cooled down further in the minutes that followed as MC opened up a 37-17 lead halfway through the period. The Pirates countered, however, scoring 10 of the next 12 points. William Caceres scored a lay-up and Cigar completed an old-fashioned 3-point play. Wilson hit a three and Cigar cashed in Cyrus Smith's dime for a 39-27 deficit at the 7:12 mark. Ventura trailed 58-37 at intermission.
The Pirates were unable to muster any run in the second half as MC scored the first nine points of the stanza. VC dropped the contest, 103-67.
Dolinsek led the Pirates' efforts on the boards with eight rebounds while Cigar and Wilson each grabbed four. Hymes handed out seven assists.
Ventura returns home on Wednesday Jan. 15, hosting Santa Barbara at 7:00 pm.