Pirates split games at Victor Valley Tournament

Porterville College sophomore Carlos Angel scored a team-high 18 points to lead the Pirates in a high-scoring 94-88 victory over Barstow Community College in an opening-round game of the Victor Valley College Memorial Tournament on Thursday. But that momentum didn't last long as PC suffered an 82-74 loss to the host VVC Rams on Friday to close the two-day tourney.

Porterville 94, Barstow 88
Five different Pirates scored in double-figures with Angel's 18 point leading the way as Porterville won its first game of the season over Barstow. Damoni Jones scored 15 points, Brandon Thomas added 14 points, and Malik McCowan nearly had a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Tevin Howell also had a good game off the bench with 10 points, five rebounds, and three assists.

Barstow actually outshot Porterville, making 33 field goals in the game, but the Pirates nailed nine 3-pointers and made 29 free throws. Porterville built a commanding 53-37 lead at halftime and never looked back.

Victor Valley 82, Porterville 74
Jones had a monster game with 23 points and McCowan added 18 points but despite a late second-half surge, Porterville suffered an 82-74 loss to host Victor Valley.

Jones and McCowan were the only Pirates is score in double figures and also contributing to the loss was Porterville being outrebounded by 40-26 margin. Howell once again came off the bench to score 8 points.

Porterville is now 1-4 overall and returns to action on Wednesday (Nov. 15) when it hosts Oxnard College in a 6 p.m. non-conference game.