SBVC (6-11) has had some ups and downs, but the Ventura College-Optimist Club Holiday Tournament was a forecast of what we should look forward to in the upcoming season, as they snuck by the Costa Mesa Orange Coast Pirates (3-10), then shocked the Mt. San Jacinto Eagles (11-3) and almost knocked off the defending state Champs, the Ventura Pirates (13-5) in the title game.

SBVC opened up against an Orange Coast team going through their own struggles in the early season, the Pirates did take a four-point halftime lead, 26-22, but SBVC controlled the second half securing the win, 52-49. Sophomore starting guard Ashley Carson (Upland H.S.) led all scorers with 14 points going 5 of 10 from the field and sophomore starting forward Ameila Villegas (Jurupa Valley H.S.) added 10 points on 5 of 13 shooting in the victory.

 On the winner's side of the bracket, SBVC faced an old Foothill Conference foe, Mt. San Jacinto who took a six-point lead at halftime, 34-28, but once again the second half was a better half for SBVC as they squeaked out a win over the Eagles, 70-67. Carson led SBVC with 23 points going 7 of 11 from the free throw line and freshman starting guard Jasmine Hickey (Riverside Martin Luther King Jr.) contributed 10 points, going 7 of 10 from the line. Freshman forward Nautica Simmons (San Bernardino Cajon) came off of the bench to add 10 total rebounds on the evening.

 In the main event, the Championship match, SBVC took on the host Ventura and matched them almost board-for-board with the Pirates taking a three-point lead going into halftime, 27-24, then both defenses clamped down for a last second thriller which saw the defending state champ Pirates on top, 43-42.

 Carson led all scorers with 18 points, going 7 for 8 from the free throw line and taking all of the free throw shots for SBVC and Hickey contributed 10 points on 5 of 13 shooting in the game.

 Information, Photos & Story provided by SBVC Sports Information