COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Jessie Sparks Ventura With 30 Points

Brandon Jessie scored a game-high 30 points, including seven during a 15-point run late in the first half, to spark Ventura College to an 82-71 victory over Compton in a semifinal of the Moorpark College men’s basketball tournament Friday.

After trailing by six twice in the first half, Ventura (8-1) took a 22-21 lead on Alfred Kennedy’s layup and extended that advantage to 39-24 at halftime.

The Pirates held off Compton in the second half, despite Michael Whittker scoring 21 of his 29 points in the second half. Whittker hit six three-point shots after intermission.

Steve Amar added 18 points and six rebounds for Ventura, the two-time defending tournament champion.

Oxnard 73, Moorpark 69--Cousins Wendell and Tim Nunnery combined for five points in the final two minutes as Oxnard held off Moorpark in the other semifinal of the Raiders’ tournament.

Oxnard (3-4) had staged a game-opening 15-0 run and led, 37-24, at halftime before Moorpark (5-3), keyed by Paul Foster’s 12-point spurt, rallied with a 26-18 run and cut Oxnard’s lead to 68-67 on Jamie Jaquez’s jump shot.

Wendell Nunnery, who scored a game-high 20 points, hit a three-point shot, and Tim Nunnery, who scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half, hit a jumper with 30 seconds to play.