Top-Ranked Ventura to Begin State Tournament Against Cosumnes River

IRVINE — Ventura College, the top-ranked junior college men’s basketball team in the state, has advanced to the eight-team state tournament for the third consecutive season and will open play tonight at 8 against Cosumnes River at the UC Irvine Bren Events Center.

If the Pirates win their first-round game, they will play in the semifinals Friday at 8 p.m. against the winner of tonight’s game between Riverside and defending state champion Columbia. The final is Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The Pirates (34-2), under Coach Philip Mathews, advanced to the semifinals in 1992 and lost in the final to Columbia, 97-88, last season. Mathews guided the Pirates to the state title in 1987.

The Pirates are led by 6-foot-5 forward Brandon Jessie (22.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game during regular season), 5-10 point guard Joey Ramirez (15.5 points, 5.9 assists) and 6-4 center Michael Tate (10.7 points, 8.7 rebounds).

Cosumnes River (22-9) is the only team in the final eight that did not win a conference championship. The Chiefs, coached by Jim Clark, finished second in the Bay Valley Conference behind Merritt.

Guard Benji Garnett was fifth in the state with a 25.3 scoring average and second in three-point baskets with 122. Terrence Richardson, a 6-6 forward, averaged 15.4 points and 7.1 rebounds.