After Outcry, Ventura Gives Coach a Laugher : Junior college basketball: One night after Mathews’ critical review, Pirates trounce Chaffey, 98-75.

GLENDALE — One night Ventura College Coach Philip Mathews can’t find one good thing with his team and the next he is nothing but smiles.

With the way the Pirates played in a 98-75 victory over Chaffey in the semifinals of the Glendale tournament Friday night, even Mathews couldn’t hide his pleasure.

“We met the challenge,” Mathews said. “(Chaffey) was quick and athletic but we played great defense. (Chaffey) stayed in the game in the first half because they had 10 offensive rebounds.”

Even with the fine work on the boards by the Panthers (8-4) in the first half, Ventura (14-1) cruised to its 14th consecutive victory and will play for the title tonight at 7:30 against L.A. Southwest, an 83-80 winner over Harbor.

Chaffey led only three times, the last at 15-13 with 15 minutes 11 seconds to play in the first half, before the Pirates went to the whip. Ventura outscored Chaffey, 17-7, in a 4 1/2-minute span to take a 38-24 lead with 8:22 remaining in the half.

Point guard Joey Ramirez, who finished with 23 points, scored eight points during the run and guard D’Mitri Rideout had five. Rideout had 20 in the game and forward Brandon Jessie finished with a game-high 27 points.

The Pirates found the range from every angle and spot on the floor. They made eight three-point shots--three by Rideout--and scored 20 baskets from inside the lane.

They had two dunks, one by Jessie and one by James King, and got a basket on a goaltending call against Chaffey.

The Pirates shot a blazing 61% (33 of 54) from the field and Chaffey shot 42.4% (31 of 73).

In another Glendale tournament game:

Glendale 80, San Diego City 78--James Parker hit a 15-foot basket with 40 seconds to play to help the Vaqueros (6-4) snap a three-game losing streak.

Parker was one of five Vaqueros who scored in double figures. Ryan Asplund led the attack with 16 points, including 12 on four three-point baskets.

Parker had 15 points, Charles Garcia 14, Maurice Sowells 13 and Eugene Hatch 11.

Glendale led by 10 points twice, but had to hang on after San Diego City (2-8) unleashed a furious rally in the final minutes.

Guard Keith Stewart had 29 points for San Diego, including five three-point baskets.