Ventura College Wins Two Titles

SAN JOSE —  It was quite a day for Ventura College, as both the men’s and women’s basketball teams won state community college titles.

The men won their second consecutive state title and fourth overall by beating West Valley College, 82-81, Saturday to finish 34-2.

The women (35-0) rallied from nine points down in the second half to beat Saddleback, 69-62, for their first state title.

Center Curtis Gains scored the final eight points for the Ventura men and finished with 23. Ventura’s Hakeem Ward, who was nine of 10 from the field and finished with 19 points, was selected as the tournament’s most valuable player.

West Valley (31-3) failed to make three shots in the closing seconds.

The Ventura women, who finished 35-0, took advantage of 45 turnovers by Saddleback (31-1).

Ventura’s Marina Torres-Reyes had 12 steals and was named the tournament’s MVP. Tori Anderson and Kadaiya Johns each had 18 points for Ventura, which trailed, 36-27, with 18:24 left.