The Ventura College men's basketball team fell to 1-4 with a frustrating 63-53 loss to Imperial Valley Thursday night in Irvine despite a career high 22 points and six rebounds from Jeremiah Slowik and 10 points from Jordan Harris.

"We couldn't hit a shot," said coach Will Cowen. "We're not playing very well right now."

Ventura, which was just 8 of 18 from the line, faces Long Beach City in Friday's consolation semifinals. Imperial Valley improved to 1-0.

A loss would get the Pirates hope for Saturday night's playoff women's soccer game with Antelope Valley, rather than watching the football team's Orange County Bowl game against Golden West in nearby Costa Mesa.

This weekend's "We Play Hard" men's basketball tournament, hosted by Ventura College, is a special treat for local community college fans.

For the first time in recent memory, all three local programs will play in the same tournament. Oxnard opens Friday's quarterfinals against powerful Antelope Valley at 1 p.m., Moorpark follows against Los Angeles Valley at 5 p.m. and Ventura hosts Orange Coast at 7 p.m.

"It should be a great atmosphere," said Ventura coach Will Cowen. "With everyone's budget the way it is, we should all try to stay local... It's better for everyone."

Joey Ramirez has only been back with the Ventura College men's basketball team for a month.

But the Pirates have already restored one of his favorite traditions from his playing career.

Ventura will celebrate the official opening of practice Friday night with a Midnight Madness that will include a 3-point shootout, slam dunk contest and intrasquad scrimmage.

The exercise reminds the assistant coach, who played at VC from 1992-94, of his playing days.

"People were fighting for position and the community was there to watch it," said Ramirez. "It was intense."

Entrance is free to the public.

"It's a chance to get a sneak preview of the season," said head coach Will Cowen. "We're bringing it back because we we're trying to restore the program's traditions."

Ventura returns three sophomores, forward Jordan Harris, Jermiah Slowik and Justin Jimenez, from its Western State Conference North Division co-championship group.

The Pirates lost forward Randy Hunter, who transferred to Citrus College, but newcomers include All-CIF guard Paul Batausa of Ventura High and 6-foot-7 forward Pierce Brooks, a transfer from the University of San Francisco.

Oxnard returns a full backcourt in Ryan McLucas, who sat out last season with an injury, Nick Molina and Craig Lee. Key newcomers include forwards Omar Abraham and James Ennis, the former Ventura High star who was selected second team preseason All-American by Sporting News.

Moorpark may only returns one sophomore, but the Raiders are boosted by the addition of former Simi Valley star Mike Meza, a transfer from Azusa Pacific, and former Cal State Northridge guard Dallas Rutherford.

On his first day as an assistant coach for the Ventura College's men's basketball, Joey Ramirez was asked to speak to the team.

Midway through an emotional sermon in the school's team room, Ramirez, who earned 1994 Western State Conference co-Most Valuable Player honors in orange and black, glanced over the door, where the painted "Eye of Tradition" had been during his playing days.

"I looked up there and it was gone," said Ramirez.

Ventura College president Robin Calote e-mailed a statement Monday regarding the on-going VC men's basketball head coaching position:

"The selection of the men's basketball coach is an important decision that has significant implications for the viability of the men's basketball program in a community that enthusiastically supports basketball.

"Although two viable candidates have emerged through the screening process, after conferring with Chancellor Meznek, I have decided not to fill the position with an external candidate at this time. The primary reason for this is that there is movement at the state level to fund both physical education and athletics at the non-credit apportionment rate. This has serious financial implications for the college, which was already facing a multi-million dollar shortfall for the immediate future.

"Now, more than ever, it is becoming critical for the college to focus on the core classes that students need to transfer, to obtain a degree or certificate, or to acquire the skills leading to immediate employment. As the budget crisis deepens, already within the college and the district it has been necessary to pull back on several advertised full-time positions, and where possible, to either fill from within or to combine functions. Within the last two weeks, this has been done in counseling, in the student activities program, and in other areas as well.

"Depending on the state's and district's economic situation, it is my hope to reopen the men's basketball position in two years. In the interim, I have asked Will Cowen to add coaching duties to his faculty assignment. Will has a history of successful coaching experience at the high school level, and he has served the college well as the Assistant Men's Basketball Coach this last season. I have every confidence that he will be able to do a good job for both the students and the college.

Robin Calote, Ed.D.
President, Ventura College"

The same day the temporary association of Ned Mircetic and Will Cowen with the Ventura College men's basketball team ended, the Ventura County Community College District began advertising for their full-time successor.

The No. 10-seeded Pirates completed a 24-9 season with perhaps its only lopsided loss of the year, 83-66, at No. 7 Riverside Friday night in the Southern California regional semifinals.

Only hours before, the district posted an advertisement for a full-time coach on its website, http://www.vcccd.edu.

"It's going to be a normal hiring process," said Ventura president Robin Calote. "The district screens for minimum qualifications. There's a standard hiring committee that narrows down the pool and then I do the same."

Applicants must apply by March 29. The district lists the requested start date as Aug. 11.
Calote was asked if the events of the past 16 months would influence the type of candidate for which she was looking.

"I'm looking for a person who has both ability as an instructor and as a coach, and who has an impeccable reputation, strong ethics and commitment to student success," said Calote.

"(Someone who) understand that it's important to do so by working within college and district procedures and Commission on Athletics bylaws."

Ventura officials are preparing for a deluge of applicants.

"I think we're going to have a great pool and there's going to be a number of great applicants from in and out of the state," said Tim Harrison. "I'm sure we'll have a wide variety."

The job became open only two days after the man who filled the position for nine years, Greg Winslow, was arrested Wednesday on five counts of felony grand theft and one count of felony public officer crime, which involves the misuse of public money, allegedly stemming from his actions as men's basketball coach and athletic director.

He remains on non-disciplinary, paid leave.

Cowen begins his new role as the school's athletic director today.

Mircetic, convinced by Calote to steward the program for one year, until the school could fill the position with a full-time hire, returns full-time to his women's program, which is 32-0 and four wins from its sixth state title.

Which, once again, leaves assistant coach Jon Wyers as the only off-season face of the program.

Riverside coach John Smith made an interesting comment in complimenting Ventura's three coaches hours before tipoff Friday.

"They play as a team," said Smith. "They play like Ned's (women's) team."

"He has the men playing with that type of unselfishness you see in the women's game... That's hard to prepare for."

Ventura College men's basketball head coach Ned Mircetic has turned the keys over to his assistant coaches, Will Cowen and Jon Wyers.

While the No. 10 Pirates (24-8) arrived in Riverside for its regional semifinal against the No. 7-seeded Tigers (25-7) Thursday night, Mircetic had planned to attempt to drive east for the game following the Ventura women's practice this afternoon.

"I'm turning it over to Will and Wyers," said Mircetic by phone as the Pirates went through a shootaround at Wheeler Gym at 3 p.m. "If they go on to play next week, they're going to be without me then too.

"It's less disruptive. They took the team out there last night. They got the flow going. I would disrupt the flow they got going."

The Pirates were 9-1 without Mircetic in November and December.

"I have absolute conference in Will Cowen, Jon Wyers and the players. My rushing out there can't make things any better... My expecation is that they will win, as they so many times did in December."

Instead, Mircetic will scout the women's regional semifinal between No. 7 Canyons and No. 10 Mount San Jacinto, the winner of which may come to the VC Athletic Event Center next weekend.

Analysis

Will Cowen's acceptance of the vacant Ventura College athletic director position has a domino affect on the potential full-time men's basketball hire this summer.

The former Pacifica High girls' basketball coach, who spent years working at Pete Newell's renowned big-man camp, Cowen had built himself into a leading candidate by helping the Pirates to a 20-7 record and a Top 20 ranking in the state coaches' poll as an assistant coach this season.

Cowen said he left his future role in the hands of Ventura president Robin Calote.

"Essentially, here's what I told the president," said Cowen. "I will do whatever she feels will service the college in the best way.

"I was real open with her and I told her that from Day 1."

Former VC coach Phil Mathews and current VC assistant Jon Wyers are two potential candidates with both connections to the school and interest in the job.

Ventura College women's basketball coach Ned Mircetic, currently the temporary men's head coach, has repeatedly said he isn't willing to leave the women's program to become the full-time men's coach.

Pacifica High athletic director Will Cowen, who has served Ventura College this season as an assistant men's basketball coach, has accepted the college's vacant athletic director position, pending board approval.

If approved, he is expected to begin in his new role on March 1.

"(Dean) Tim Harrison called me and offered me the position and I verbally accepted," said Cowen Monday.

Cowen planned to announce his move Wednesday morning on the Pacifica High in-house newscast, "Triton Talk."

"I left one of the best high school situations to take one of the best college situations," said Cowen. "I'm very honored by the opportunity.

"It's an honor to be a full-time faculty member at Ventura College."

Cowen was selected after the job was opened up to applicants beyond the Ventura faculty for the first time in memory.

"I think we've got a really good person for the job," said Ventura president Robin Calote. "He's already done it at the high school level, where he has experience managing many teams. He has a dedication to Ventura College and wants to be with us.

"I have confidence that he, Tim and our coaches will be able to work together."

"I was looking for a skill set... We needed a person that cared a lot about detail, but also cared about the success of the students."

Ventura has not had a full-time athletic director since Dick James retired in 2003.

Fomer men's basketball coach Greg Winslow and cross-country coach Nancy Fredrickson had shared the position in the interim, until their resignations on Feb. 8 and May 5, respectively.

"These opportunities don't come up very often," said Cowen. "I don't know the last time this job was opened up."

Before the late fireworks in the women's game, the Ventura College and Santa Barbara City College men's basketball teams played a coaching chess match.

Ventura won 88-76, but not before Santa Barbara head coach Morris Hodges gave the Pirates plenty of trouble by switching from Vance Walberg's drive-and-kick offense to the triangle offense and slapping on a zone press.

"They're a good team, they're well coached and they made some adjustments," said Ventura coach Ned Mircetic. "The game was up for grabs

"It took four of five minutes, but we finally hit the brakes and put the car into gear again."

The offensive adjustment helped Santa Barbara close a 21-point deficit to 68-64 with 7:31 to play.

"We got a little lazy," said point guard Danny Benson, who keyed the game with 16 points and seven assists. "When they came back, we had to go back to what our coaches told us to do."

"I was scared there for a second," said center Will Faiivae, who had 10 points and rocked the rim with three memorable dunks. "Everyone's playing hard. We're hungry for conference."

Santa Barbara had dug out of a 19-point hole in win over Pierce last week.

"We couldn't let them do it this game," said Benson.

Special mention for Ventura guard Eric Gray, who not only scored 11 points, but helped the Pirates shut out high-scoring Santa Barbara guard Mark Keeten.

"We knew Keeten from last year," said Benson. "We did what we needed to do."

Ventura College coach Ned Mircetic on defending Moorpark College's drive and kick attack:

"We're adjusted to them."

Many coaches decide not to help off Moorpark's shooter and opt to defend the Raiders one on one:

"We will (help) in certain places, but from an odd place."

Assistant coach Will Cowen on defending tonight:

"We'll defend as aggressively as possible without getting beat."

The Ventura College basketball coaching staff cast a wide scouting net during its off night Wednesday.

Women's assistant coach Robin Hester was in San Luis Obispo to see Cuesta-Santa Barbara while men's assistants Will Cowen and Jon Wyers scouted Los Angeles Pierce at Moorpark and Hancock at Oxnard, respectively.

The three assistants scouted both games of the doubleheader, contributing to both the men's and women's programs.

"It helps that we work close together like that," said Mircetic, who also scouted Pierce at Moorpark.

Ventura College guard Dee Pinkard, who missed the end of his freshman campaign with a knee injury, seems to be turning a corner.

The Hueneme High graduate had a big game in the Ventura College men's basketball team's best game thus far this season, a 97-77 win over Santa Barbara City.

Pinkard had eight points, 13 rebounds, nine assists, one block and two steals.

"And he's going to get better each week as he gets in better shape from the injury," said coach Will Cowen.