Men’s basketball team overcomes adversity to win, win, win

By Quinton Clark

VCNC reporter

The Ventura Pirates men’s basketball team is 22-5 for the season and 9-0 in conference play.

And, team members said, the best is yet to come.

There has been concern among fans whether the Pirates can win the Western State Conference (North) title, after four players were found ineligible and suspended from play earlier this year. The four out-of-state players were accused of paying in-state tuition and of filling out paperwork incorrectly. Both college officials and the District Attorney’s Office are still investigating.

Some fans doubted the Pirates can win without the four players.

”Not a chance” the team can succeed without the suspended players, Ventura fan Richard Booker said. Longtime Pirate fan Ronnie Mathis has different feelings. “They are young, talented, hungry and ready to make a run for the playoffs,” he said.

The four suspended players will not be able to play basketball at Ventura College, VC President Robin Calote said. “The four players are no longer enrolled at the school at this time,” she explained.

An active investigation into the suspension is going on, Calote said, so sanctions are still up in the air. “The investigation is not over with so it’s kind of premature to say that anything would happen to us.

“I certainly hope not.”

It is up to the school to handle its own disciplinary actions, Calote said.

The Commission on Athletics will get involved and impose sanctions only if Ventura College is not trying to take care of its own problems, or address its situations when they come up. Ventura College is taking care of this situation, Calote said.

“We are not trying to sweep anything under the carpet. … We’re not trying to hunt down people or cause problems; we’re just trying to get to the bottom of the problem and deal with what is.”

Coach Gary Winslow didn’t want to speak about the players’ ineligibility. But he said that he expects his team to make the playoffs, and would be shocked if they didn’t.

Calote emphasized how the team has overcome adversity.  “I’m really proud of the team,” she said. “They’ve faced a lot of challenges this year. …. And in spite of that, they’re doing great.”

On the human side of it, Calote said, “I have a lot of empathy for the players that can no longer play. It can’t be pleasant for them.”

The Pirates will play on their home court against Oxnard College at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, and at Hancock College on Saturday, Feb. 23. That is their final game before the SOCAL Playoffs Preliminary Round begins.

A complete schedule and game results are available at http://academic.venturacollege.edu/gwinslow/schedule.html.