Joe White Gymnasium has now bitten both the teams that entered the first round of the first rotation of WSC North play in first place. Hancock, which spent the first five games of the WSC North campaign in the basement, climbed out of last place with a home defeat of Ventura, which crashed out of first place. The Pirates now must win at first-place Cuesta Saturday or fall two games back with four to play. Meanwhile, Moorpark fell into a three-way knot for third place with Oxnard and Santa Barbara. Pierce sits alone at the bottom despite playing first-place Cuesta close.

WSC North standings
Team Total WSC
Cuesta 20-8 5-1
Ventura 19-7 4-2
Moorpark 13-9 3-3
Oxnard 10-13 3-3
Santa Barbara 11-15 3-3
Hancock 7-15 2-4
L.A. Pierce 7-14 1-5

Wednesday's results
Hancock 64, No. 17 Ventura 59
Oxnard 71, Moorpark 65
Cuesta 54, L.A. Pierce 48

Saturday's schedule
Ventura at Cuesta, 5 p.m.
Moorpark at Hancock, 5 p.m.
Santa Barbara at Oxnard, 5 p.m.