Basketball comes to a Close at Hancock; Nunnery and Marquez named WSC All-Conference

February 21—Santa Maria

After returning to the hardwood, OC Basketball has competed hard in every contest.  The Condors were not ready to play spoiler at Hancock College, as the Bulldogs walloped Oxnard, 102-50.  Hancock scored the first 18 points of the game, and things went downhill from there.

DeSean Scott and Terrance Nunnery led the Condors with 21 and 14 points. DaShaun Nixon and Nunnery each grabbed five boards, but they had no answer for the Bulldog’s Matt Wilkomm who scored 26 points, going 8 for 10 from the field.

On Sunday, Nunnery was named a WSC First-Team All-Conference Team.  He averaged 16.9 points per game (25th in the State).

The Lady Condors were trying to overtake the Bulldogs in the WSC standings, but fell 76-58.  Juliette Marquez again led the OC with 25 points, while pulling down six boards.  Her teammate, Cindy Galvan added nine points, and Cassy Luna had eight points and eight boards to match.

Marquez was named a WSC First-Team All-Conference Team. She averaged 15.7 points per game (33rd in the State).

OC finished 2-10 in conference, with a signature win against SBCC, finishing ahead of LA Pierce.

“I wish we could have brought more intensity to this final game, but overall I was happy with the season,” said Head Coach Ron McClurkin. 

“We were winners at OC before we played a game.  We had 30 students practicing and working hard on the court and in the classroom.  They wouldn’t have been here, had it not been for our administration bringing back basketball.”—Jonas Crawford, Oxnard College Athletic Director

Condors Fall to VC

February 18—Oxnard

OC had a chance to sweep cross-county rival Ventura College for the first time since 2000.  They fell three points short on Wednesday night, 61-58. 

Oxnard led the Pirates by as much as 17 points in the first half, but the all-freshman squad was unable to hold on. 

Terrence Nunnery scored 25 points with DeSean Scott adding 17 points and Deondre Edwards with 16.

“That’s what this rivalry is all about,” said Head Coach Ron McClurkin.  “…many lead changes and an exciting game to watch, although we would have loved to get the sweep.”

The Lady Condors jumped out to a 6-0 lead on defending state champion Ventura, but that was it.  The Pirates looked like champions, beating OC 90-44.

Oxnard was again led by Juliette Marquez with 22 points.

The Condors travel to Santa Maria for their final game of the season.  The men tipoff against Hancock at 3:00, with the ladies game scheduled for 5:00.

OC Basketball Falls on the Court but Soars to Fight Cancer

February 11—Oxnard

 

IMage of logo for Coaches Vs Cancer
The Condor Men and Women improved tremendously against Moorpark on Wednesday night.  After the men and women lost by nearly 30 at Moorpark, the scores last night were 95-78 and 57-43, respectively. 

The OC men were led by an electric performance by Terrence Nunnery from behind the arc. Moorpark had trouble with Nunnery, who had a game-high 31 points and made eight 3-pointers. Equally as impressive was the Condor’s speedy point guard Deondre Edwards with 28 points and 10 assists.

On the ladies’ side, Juliette Marquez led Oxnard (2-17, 2-7) with 14 points. Cindy Galvan and Simone Tobin added nine and eight points apiece.

“Even in a loss, I feel like the teams represented us really well,” replied Head Coach Ron McClurkin.

Oxnard College Athletics joined more than 4000 athletic programs across the country to raise awareness and funds to support our family members, friends, and neighbors.

The true champions last night were our fans who contributed to make a difference in the fight against cancer.  By helping the American Cancer Society fund ground-breaking research and provide life-saving programs we have all provided hope.

Last night’s effort brought in over $1150!  All the proceeds from the gate, snack bar, and donation buckets will be forwarded to the American Cancer Society.

The Condors would like to thank everybody who supported this great effort!

Condors Struggle at Cuesta

February 14—San Luis Obispo

The long drive to San Luis Obispo must have felt long coming home after the Oxnard College Men and Women dropped both games at the Cougar Gymnasium. 

The Men struggle to stop WSC leading Cuesta, giving up 106 points, and only scoring 70.  The Condors were led by DeSean Scott, who posted 27 points, six rebounds, and four steals.  His teammates, Deondre Edwards and Terrance Nunnery each had 16 points.

The Lady Condors fell 87-41 to top-20 ranked Cuesta.  They also struggled with defense and committed 29 turnovers.

Juliette Marquez led OC again with 15 points, and Miranda Cervantes chipped in with eight.

Oxnard will face off against arch-rival Ventura College on Wednesday night.  Both teams should play with intensity as it comes down to pride at this point in the season.

Condor Men Sweep Santa Barbara, Women Fall

February 4—Santa Barbara

 

Photo of Terrance Nunnery
Oxnard College Men’s Basketball (3-5 WSC) defeated SBCC 65-61 on Wednesday night in Santa Barbara.  Playing with only seven players, Oxnard managed enough offense to keep the Vaqueros out of the WSC win column.

Terrance Nunnery (pic) led OC with 24 points and four boards.  Deondre Edwards was added 17 points and four assists, and four boards, while Juan Valdez was also in double figures for OC with ten points.

“The men played together and even though we made some mistakes down the stretch, we were able to come away with a win,” said Head Coach Ron McClurkin.

OC has a bye on Saturday, but will be back in action next Wednesday, hosting cross-county rival Moorpark College.  The Athletic Department will be holding the annual Coaches vs. Cancer game.  All proceeds from both the men’s and women’s game will be forwarded to the American Cancer Association.

 

Photo of Simone Tobin
The Lady Condors went for the sweep in San Barbara, but were turned away 68-52.  Simone Tobin (pic) had nine points and five rebounds, Tabitha Cunanan had 14 points and two assists, Juliette Marquez had 14, with Miranda Cervantes adding eight points.

“We didn’t start playing until halfway through the first half.  We battled back to a seven point deficit, but they hit their free throws, and we weren’t able to make up for our poor start,” said Assistant Coach Christina Torres.

The ladies play against Moorpark next Wednesday at 7:00, in the Condor’s Nest.

OC Beats VC

January 24—Ventura

The cross-county rivalry is back and so are the Condors. 

After a two-year hiatus, with a team full of freshman, the Condors beat Ventura 56-54 on Saturday night.  DeSean Scott led the way for OC with 22 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.  One crucial block came at the end of the game, on Ventura’s final possession.

 

Photo of Carlos Gomez
Carlos Gomez (pic) came off the bench and added 14 points, and along with his high energy play, made some big stops on defense.  “He really brings our whole team energy up,” said Ron McClurkin.  “If we play with smart, with that intensity, I think we can compete with any team in conference.”

DaShaun Nixon came up big for OC as well with eight points, four rebounds, and three blocks.  DaShaun, a freshman from Hueneme HS also brings hustle and energy said “To come into their house and win, it’s one of the best feelings.”

For Oxnard College to have basketball back in the Nest is a great feeling as well.

The Lady Condors suffered a much different fate at the hands of the defending state champs.  VC downed Oxnard 76-35. 

Juliette Marquez led the Condors with 12 points.  Assistant Coach, Christina Torres was on the visiting side to experience the frenetic pace that she was a part of last year.  Torres was on the coaching staff with Head Coach, Ned Mercetic, to earn the state crown.  “It was tough…We played hard, but the atmosphere was hard on them.”

The ladies look to get another win when Hancock College visits the Condor’s Nest on Wednesday.


Young Condors Outmatched against Cuesta

January 21—Oxnard

It’s very hard to win anytime you spot your opponent 20 points, but even harder when you have an inexperienced team like the 2015 Condors.

Cuesta College raced to a 20-0 lead, and never looked back, beating OC 89-59.  The Condors trailed 49-30 at half, after they settled down.  The lead was cut to 15 early in the second half, but Cuesta was able to figure out the Condor defense.

 

Photo of DeSean Scott
DeSean Scott (left) led the way for the Condors with 26 points and eight rebounds.  Terrance Nunnery had 12 and four, and Robert Martinez had 11 points.  Carlos Gomez brought some intensity off the bench, played tough defense, and led the team with four assists.

Oxnard fell to 1-3 in conference, with a game against cross-county rivals VC (1-3) on Saturday.

The Lady Condors were able to take an early lead on Cuesta, but could not maintain their early solid play.  The Cougars bounced back and took a 29-18 lead on OC. 

In the second half, OC was unable to come out with the intensity they need to compete with one of the best teams in the WSC.  Juliette Marquez led the way with 12 points, while her teammates Tabatha Cunanan and Cassie Luna both chipped in 10 each. “We worked hard throughout the first half,” replied Christina Torres, Assistant Coach.  “The game got away from us because of lack of depth and experience.”

The Condors fought hard to the end, but fell 42-69. 

The heat will certainly be turned up for the young Lady Condors when they travel to VC to take on the defending State Champs on Saturday night.  Tipoff for the ladies’ game is scheduled for 7:00 pm, with the men playing first at 5:00.

Condors Soar on Homecoming Night

January 10—Oxnard

 

Photo of 1979-80 WSC Champion Team Members

Oxnard College Athletics welcomed the 1979-80 WSC Champions back to the Condors’ Nest to celebrate their accomplishments.  Coach LeRoy Porter and ten members of the first team at OC to claim the WSC crown were on hand.  Two perpetual banners were unveiled, for Men and Women, and each member was presented with framed Oxnard jerseys.  The ’79 Alumni Team also announced that they would fund a Lee Porter Scholarship, for graduating basketball players, through the Oxnard College Foundation.

The terrific vibe created by the event certainly resonated with the Men’s Team.  Coming in with a 1-9 record, and 0-1 in the WSC, the Condors jumped on SBCC early.  They took a quick lead, and held on to a 28-41 score at the half.  They came out in the second half, led by Isiah Morales and Matt Ramon.  Morales almost had a triple-double with 23 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds.  Ramon had 14 points and 12 boards.  The Condors shot 48% from beyond the arc, and came away with an 83-54 win.

The Lady Condors, looking for their first win of the season, fed off the energy from the win by opening the game on an 18-5 run.   Simone Tobin, Tabitha Cunanan, and Juliette Marquez all had 15 points each on the evening.  Tobin also had 13 boards, while Cassandra Luna grabbed 10 to go along with eight points.

The game grew close at halftime, with OC ahead by eight points.  The Vaqueros cut the lead to three in the second half, but the Condors battled all the way.  They hit their foul shots, took care of the ball, and chalked up their first win since having the program reinstated.

The 2015 Condors fed off the energy from the 1979 team, and for a night, both teams were champions as well.

Basketball comes to a Close at Hancock; Nunnery and Marquez named WSC All-Conference

February 21—Santa Maria

After returning to the hardwood, OC Basketball has competed hard in every contest.  The Condors were not ready to play spoiler at Hancock College, as the Bulldogs walloped Oxnard, 102-50.  Hancock scored the first 18 points of the game, and things went downhill from there.

DeSean Scott and Terrance Nunnery led the Condors with 21 and 14 points. DaShaun Nixon and Nunnery each grabbed five boards, but they had no answer for the Bulldog’s Matt Wilkomm who scored 26 points, going 8 for 10 from the field.

On Sunday, Nunnery was named a WSC First-Team All-Conference Team.  He averaged 16.9 points per game (25th in the State).

The Lady Condors were trying to overtake the Bulldogs in the WSC standings, but fell 76-58.  Juliette Marquez again led the OC with 25 points, while pulling down six boards.  Her teammate, Cindy Galvan added nine points, and Cassy Luna had eight points and eight boards to match.

Marquez was named a WSC First-Team All-Conference Team. She averaged 15.7 points per game (33rd in the State).

OC finished 2-10 in conference, with a signature win against SBCC, finishing ahead of LA Pierce.

“I wish we could have brought more intensity to this final game, but overall I was happy with the season,” said Head Coach Ron McClurkin. 

“We were winners at OC before we played a game.  We had 30 students practicing and working hard on the court and in the classroom.  They wouldn’t have been here, had it not been for our administration bringing back basketball.”—Jonas Crawford, Oxnard College Athletic Director

OC Basketball Falls on the Court but Soars to Fight Cancer

February 11—Oxnard

 

IMage of logo for Coaches Vs Cancer
The Condor Men and Women improved tremendously against Moorpark on Wednesday night.  After the men and women lost by nearly 30 at Moorpark, the scores last night were 95-78 and 57-43, respectively. 

The OC men were led by an electric performance by Terrence Nunnery from behind the arc. Moorpark had trouble with Nunnery, who had a game-high 31 points and made eight 3-pointers. Equally as impressive was the Condor’s speedy point guard Deondre Edwards with 28 points and 10 assists.

On the ladies’ side, Juliette Marquez led Oxnard (2-17, 2-7) with 14 points. Cindy Galvan and Simone Tobin added nine and eight points apiece.

“Even in a loss, I feel like the teams represented us really well,” replied Head Coach Ron McClurkin.

Oxnard College Athletics joined more than 4000 athletic programs across the country to raise awareness and funds to support our family members, friends, and neighbors.

The true champions last night were our fans who contributed to make a difference in the fight against cancer.  By helping the American Cancer Society fund ground-breaking research and provide life-saving programs we have all provided hope.

Last night’s effort brought in over $1150!  All the proceeds from the gate, snack bar, and donation buckets will be forwarded to the American Cancer Society.

The Condors would like to thank everybody who supported this great effort!

Lady Condors Come Back to Beat Pierce

January 31—Oxnard

 

Photo of Cassandra Luna
Coach Ron McClurkin and his staff can be certain that the Lady Condor Basketball Team will always give 100 percent.

After trailing to LA Pierce, 18-16 at the half, the Condors came out in the second and outscored the Brahmas by nine, to win 44-37.

Juliette Marquez led OC with 14 points, followed by Cassandra Luna (pic) with 10, and Miranda Cervantes and Tabitha Cunanan had six each.  Luna added 11 boards and three steals, while her teammate Simone Tobin grabbed 9 boards.

“Our team always plays hard…that’s what I love about them,” said Head Coach Ron McClurkin.  “We would have liked to beat Hancock (last Wednesday), but we needed to win this game for our confidence,” replied Assistant, Christina Torres.

The young Condor squad has been improving all season and looks to make it two in a row at Santa Barbara on Wednesday night.  They stunned the Vaqueros last month, for their first win, and now they certainly know they can win at the collegiate level.

Go Condors!

Condors Struggle at Cuesta

February 14—San Luis Obispo

The long drive to San Luis Obispo must have felt long coming home after the Oxnard College Men and Women dropped both games at the Cougar Gymnasium. 

The Men struggle to stop WSC leading Cuesta, giving up 106 points, and only scoring 70.  The Condors were led by DeSean Scott, who posted 27 points, six rebounds, and four steals.  His teammates, Deondre Edwards and Terrance Nunnery each had 16 points.

The Lady Condors fell 87-41 to top-20 ranked Cuesta.  They also struggled with defense and committed 29 turnovers.

Juliette Marquez led OC again with 15 points, and Miranda Cervantes chipped in with eight.

Oxnard will face off against arch-rival Ventura College on Wednesday night.  Both teams should play with intensity as it comes down to pride at this point in the season.

Condors roughed up at Moorpark

January 17—Moorpark

After a terrific performance on Homecoming night, with the men and women taking down SBCC, the Condors suffered a letdown against Moorpark College on Saturday night.

The men’s team dug themselves into a deficit right from the start, and never recovered as they fell 94-67.  OC went 1-9 to start the game.  “You cannot have such a poor shooting performance as an outside shooting team,” commented Head Coach, Ron McClurkin.  “When the shots didn’t fall, we weren’t able to set up our defense, and they were able to push the ball up the court.”  The Condors had a problem with uniforms before the game.  “We have to be stronger mentally…even though we have a routine, our players need to be ready to play.”

 

Photo of Jenny Lopez
The women’s team did not fare any better against the Raiders.  Oxnard shot a dismal 28.6% from the field, scoring only 30 to MC’s 60 points.  Jenny Lopez (pic) had a nice game, scoring 10 points and grabbing five boards.

Oxnard looks to get back on track against Cuesta College on Wednesday night.  Game time is scheduled for 5:00 for the women and 7:00 for the men.


Women’s Basketball Suffers Tough Loss

December 3—Oxnard

The Lady Condors, looking for their first win of the season, lead LA Harbor by 13 points at the half.  With several chances to win in the final seconds, the young team couldn’t get the basketball to fall.  The 60-59 loss dropped OC to 0-4 in their first pre-conference action in three years.

“I really wanted this win at home for the ladies,” said Head Coach Ron McClurkin.  “They played so hard and deserved to get this one.”

Juliette Marquez scored 21 points and Tabitha Cunanan had 18. Cassy Luna finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

The Condors have been competitive in each of the first four games.  The all-freshman team is certainly improving with each game, and gaining confidence as they learn how to win at the collegiate level.

OC is back in action in the Condor’s Nest, Saturday at 2:00 against Long Beach CC.  General admission is $5 and seniors, juniors under 12, staff, and students  are $3 (free with an ASG card).

Condors Men’s Basketball Flying Back to Nest

November 21—Oxnard

After a three year hiatus, the Condors’ Nest will host the first home men’s basketball game in nearly three years.  OC will take on East LA at 5:00 on Saturday evening.

After a 1-4 start to the season, the young Condors look to right the ship, when they take on East LA for the second time this season.  In the first meeting the nearly all-freshman squad gave up 92 points, and only shot 35 percent from the floor.  As they become accustomed to the speed of the college game, this will certainly change, and with the crowd behind them, East LA will certainly see a different Condor squad.

Head Coach Ron McClurkin will look to Terrance Nunnery (Ventura HS) and Matt Ramon (Oxnard HS) to step up for OC.  “Terrance has been a good team leader for the younger players,” said Coach McClurkin in a practice recently.  Matt Ramon, DeSean Scott, and Daniel Crocker will need to play solid defense in the paint and rebound more effectively as the Huskies had 15 more boards in their first matchup.

The game tips-off at 5:00, and admission will be free for the season opener. Some members of the 1979 WSC Championship team will be on hand to wish the Condors well in their return to the Nest.

Condor Men and Women Beaten by VC

January 26—Ventura

The Oxnard Men’s basketball team fell to Ventura 71-95 at the Ventura Sports Complex Wednesday night. The Condors were led by 21 points and 10 rebounds from Gary Johnson, 19 points from Marcus Falley and eight points, 10 rebounds and three blocks from Codye Hatcher.

They were unable to overcome turnovers, mistakes, and poor shooting against the suddenly red-hot Pirates.

“We obviously played an awful basketball game for our standards,” Head Coach Jason Cunningham said. “One thing that’s been so good about us as of late has been our composure. I just felt like because of the energy of the game, when we got down, we panicked. And when we panicked, it got away from us.”

The Condors get a chance to regroup with a bye on Saturday. They will travel to Santa Maria to face a strong Hancock College squad next Wednesday. Coach Cunningham will certainly have his players ready to go.


Game two at Ventura last night saw the Pirates dominate the Lady Condors 22-84. The game was not close as the Condors were down 14-44 by halftime. OC was led by Nikki Tauau with 10 points as the Condors fell to 5-12 and 0-6 in WSC play. The ladies have a bye on Saturday and will travel to Santa Maria next week.

Oxnard College Basketball Slates Cancer Fund-Raiser

January 25—Oxnard

Gate proceeds from Oxnard’s basketball doubleheader on Feb. 5 will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

The fund-raiser, scheduled for the Condor’s Nest, will feature the Cuesta Cougar men’s team vs. the Oxnard Condors men’s team at 5:00 p.m., followed by the Cougars vs. The Lady Condors at 7 p.m. It is part of a joint state-wide effort initiated by the California Community College Men's and Women's State Basketball Coaches Associations to raise money to help defeat cancer.

"We are asking our community to help us raise money for this terrific cause," said Director of Athletics Jonas Crawford. "It provides a perfect opportunity for our basketball teams and our institution to interface with the community in a cause that truly deserves all of our support."

Funds from the individual community college events throughout the state will be pooled into a large donation from the CCCAA men's and women's coaches. A presentation of money raised will be made to the American Cancer Society at the men's and women's state championships at the Ventura College Athletic Event Center in March.

Oxnard Swats away Pierce

January 22—Oxnard

The halftime lead was only three points and, on the opening possession of the second half, visiting Los Angeles Pierce took it to the basket three times and three times Codye Hatcher (pic) sent the basketball back. “I was just staying down and helping out,” Hatcher said.

With the 6-foot-7 freshman center guarding the basket, the Oxnard College men’s basketball team stayed perfect in Western State Conference play with a 76-61 victory over visiting Pierce on Saturday night at Condor Center.

“That’s kind of intimidating for the other team,” said Oxnard coach Jason Cunningham. “Never mind the blocks. Think of how many shots he changes.”

With 15 points, 16 rebounds and nine blocks, Hatcher was a block short of a triple-double as first-place Oxnard won for the 13th time in 15 games and improved to 5-0 in WSC North play. Sophomore forward Scooter Holmes contributed a game-high 21 points and nine rebounds.

“We realized that it was going to be a tough game tonight,” said Cunningham, “with us being at the top of the conference and teams coming to play us. They’re trying to knock us off. Every game is going to be a dogfight.”

Gary Johnson had 11 points and nine rebounds and Malcolm Pope added 10 points on his 22nd birthday for the Condors, who will look to complete the first rotation of WSC North play unbeaten Wednesday at second-place Ventura. “We wanted to make sure that we weren’t overlooking tonight to get to Wednesday,” Cunningham said. Said Hatcher: “We’ve been waiting all season for that one. It’s going to be a good one.”

Oxnard took control with a 13-0 run. “We were trying to get them out of the game early,” Holmes said, but Pierce responded with a pair of runs to whittle the Condors’ advantage to 32-29 at the half.

Holmes, who had 19 of his 23 points in the second half in Wednesday’s win over Santa Barbara, had 16 first-half points. “His sense of urgency arrived a little earlier tonight,” Cunningham said.

Hatcher supplemented his block party with one of the game’s top passes, pulling down a rebound and sending it upcourt for Gary Johnson, whose breakaway two-handed dunk pushed the Condors ahead 44-36 with 13:45 to play. “That was a huge momentum swing,” Cunningham said.

Condors Get past Santa Barbara

January 19—Oxnard

Oxnard College men’s basketball beat visiting Santa Barbara 68-70 on Wednesday night. The Condors are showing signs of maturity by winning close games, and winning when they don’t play their best basketball.

Oxnard’s team captain, Scooter Holmes (above)contributed 23 points, and went 7 for 8 from the free throw line. Malcolm Pope came up with some nice defensive plays, as did Marcus Falley.

Santa Barbara’s Steven Saenz had 17 points and Chris Vines had 12, in a losing effort.

The victory pushed OC’s record to 12-6 (5-0) with Pierce College coming to the Condor’s Nest on Saturday. Game time is set for 5:00.

Condors Stay Perfect in WSC

January 15—Moorpark

The Condors moved to 3-0 in WSC play behind 31 points from freshman guard Marcus Falley. Other Condor contributors included Malcolm Pope (14 points), Codye Hatcher (13), and Scooter Holmes with ten points.

Santa Barbara stayed within one game of the red-hot Condors, by beating Ventura at the buzzer.

Oxnard faces off against Santa Barbara Wednesday night at the Condor’s Nest at 5:00. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors—free admission with any student ID.

Condor Men Remain Perfect in Conference

January 12—San Luis Obispo

Oxnard 94, Cuesta 82 -- The Condors move into sole possession of first place behind 32 points (and 7 3s) by Marcus Falley (pic). With just its second win at SLO in eight trips, Oxnard held Cuesta star Malte Kramer to 13 points.

Condors Fly by Hancock

January 8—Oxnard

The Condor men’s basketball team got back to their winning ways. In the first WSC action for Oxnard, they beat a hot Hancock squad, 64-69.

The Condors were led by Freshman Marcus Falley (above) who tallied 17 points and four steals. Marc Pajaud played an efficient game with 16 points, and Scooter Holmes threw down 11 points and grabbed seven boards. Gary Johnson also had a nice effort with 10 points, six boards, and four steals.

The game was great entertainment at the Condors Nest. On Community Appreciation Night, the game was back and forth for 40 minutes, highlighted by a spectacular dunk by Scooter Holmes. The Condors are 9-6 (1-0 in WSC) and will take on Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo on Wednesday night. The men play at 5:00 with the Lady Condors tipping off at 7:00.

Oxnard Drops Two at Citrus Tourney

December 28/29—Glendora

After winning back to back invitational tournaments, the Oxnard men’s basketball team stumbled. The Condors dropped the opening game of the Citrus Invitational Christmas Tourney to Barstow CC 73-62. This ended an 8-game winning streak that started November 26th, at the Condor Classic.

In the consolation bracket, the Condors met host Citrus College. OC held a 40-39 lead over top-ranked Citrus, and maintained a tie-score, 67-67 with 5 minutes left. Despite Gary Johnson’s (above) 20 points and 7 rebounds, Codye Hatcher’s 14 points and 12 boards, and Scooter Holmes scoring 17 and 7, the Condors fell 89-81.

“We fought hard, and some kids stepped up…As we end our preseason now, we must fine tune our game and focus on a conference championship,” said assistant coach Jeff Perrault.

Oxnard ended the pre-conference season at 8-6. They have a bye on January 5th.

The Condors play their first conference game against Hancock on January 8th at the Condors Nest. The men start at 5:00 and the ladies play at 7:00.

Go Condors!

Oxnard Wins Eighth Game in a Row

December 20—Compton

The Oxnard College men’s basketball team beat El Camino Compton Center 104-95 on Tuesday night. This was the Condor’s eighth straight win, after capturing back-to-back tourney wins at the Condor Classic and Santa Barbara Tourney.

Two-time tourney MVP Scooter Holmes (pic) led the way with 23 points, followed by Markus Falley with 17. Freshman Codye Hatcher chipped in 15, Marc Pajaud had 11 as did Stephan Thompson.

The score was tied at 47 at the half. Oxnard went on a 8-0 run midway through the second half sparked by Holmes’ three-point play. Despite only making half their free-throws, the Condors played up-tempo basketball to control the game down the stretch.

The win put OC to 8-4 on the season. They will play in the Citrus Invitational starting Tuesday, December 28th.

Go Condors!

Pajaud Leads the Way as Oxnard Tops No. 10 Riverside

December 15--Oxnard

By Zachary McVicker—

Winning six straight games and two consecutive tournaments certainly gave the No. 15-ranked Oxnard College men’s basketball team some momentum heading into Wednesday night’s matchup with No. 10 Riverside.

And after scoring an 86-77 victory over the visiting Tigers, Oxnard has the confidence everything is finally coming together.

“We’ve been playing well and the biggest thing about it is we have been playing well in tournaments,” said Oxnard coach Jason Cunningham. “So when have only one game in the week and it’s at home, we felt like we were going to come out and play really well.”

It was only a few weeks ago that Oxnard (7-4) had lost its first four games. Now the Condors are coming off wins in the Condor Classic and Santa Barbara City Classic and took down a Riverside team just a few years removed from winning the state championship.

Riverside (5-6) had just beaten then No. 1-ranked Mount San Antonio in tournament play and four its last five losses had been to ranked teams.

And the Tigers gave Oxnard all it could handle.

The Condors had to withstand a late rally, seeing a 17-point lead with a little over seven minutes to play evaporate quickly because of turnovers, a shot clock violation and a couple of technical fouls. Riverside’s Anthony Fuller had a rebound putback to close the gap within 77-73 with 2:29 to play.

But Oxnard’s Mark Pajaud (above) and Coyde Hatcher hit key free throws down the stretch and Stephan Thompson put the game away with a left-handed dunk with 59 seconds remaining to make the score 83-75.

Pajaud finished with 21 points and Marcus Falley added 18 to lead the Condors.

Pajaud hit five 3-pointers in the first half, taking over after Riverside had went on a 9-4 run to make the score 26-23 Oxnard. The 6-foot-4 sophomore guard hit four 3-pointers in the span of two minutes, the last one a bank shot that rolled around the rim a few times and spiraled home to the delight of the crowd to push the lead back out to 41-25 with 4:10 to play in the half.

“At the beginning of the game I like to facilitate, but my teammates kept feeding me the ball and told me to keep shooting,” said Pajaud. “I got a good rhythm and I was just going to ride it until the wheels fell off.”

Falley then provided the offense in the second half. He had a thunderous dunk off a Riverside turnover in the backcourt at the 14:10 mark to make the score 59-45. He then hit a fallaway jumper, a 3-pointer and three free throws a few minutes later to extend Oxnard’s lead to 76-61 with 6:54 to play.

Besides the offensive contributions from Pajaud and Falley, and solid efforts from Thompson (11 points, five rebounds) and Hatcher (10 points, eight rebounds), it was Oxnard’s zone that was the key to the game. The undersized Condors, who played a lineup that had no player taller than 6-foot-5 most of the night, used their quickness to force a bundle of early Riverside turnovers.

“We looked at their statistics coming into the game and they were shooting only 20 percent from the perimeter,” said Cunningham. “We thought we might have a little more effect on them playing the zone. It was a gamble because they offensive rebound so well.”

It was a gamble that paid off.

And now Oxnard travels to Compton on Monday night to try extend its longest winning streak since a 14-gamer during the 2002-03 season.

Condors Roll to Second Straight Championship

December 11—Santa Barbara

The Oxnard College men’s basketball team won its second championship in as many tries by downing Cypress College 91-84 Saturday night. The Condors dominated all three opponents in the Santa Barbara City College Classic by an average of 16 points.

The Condors (6-4) trailed the Chargers 39-36, but came out in the second half and showed why they will soon be a top-ranked team in Southern California.

OC had a balanced attack again, with Gary Johnson throwing down 19 points and seven rebounds. Markus Falley had another stellar game with 20 points, and was named to the All-Tournament team. Codye Hatcher produced a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, Mark Pajaud had 13 points and seven rebounds and Stephan Thompson added 11 points and five rebounds.

Scooter Holmes (left) added to his collection of hardware by claiming his second-straight Tournament MVP. The sophomore forward has been playing great all-around basketball, despite having a nagging wrist injury.

“There’s definitely some chemistry,” head coach Jason Cunningham said. “The guys are trusting each other. They’re being more united. We can do this all the time, if we stay together.”

The Condors will face another strong opponent in Riverside College this Wednesday, in the Condor’s Nest. The game starts at 7:00. Any student ID will be honored at the door. Come watch some great basketball, and support Oxnard College.

Condor Men’s Basketball on a Roll  

December 9—Santa Barbara

Oxnard College men’s basketball used the momentum they gained by claiming the Condor Classic Championship last week. The Condors took down the number-10 ranked Barstow Vikings 86-76, in the first round of the Santa Barbara City Classic.

Markus Falley (above)led the Condors with 25 points, and Scooter Holmes had 15. Gary Johnson, Codye Hatcher, and Malcolm Pope scored 10 points each to round-out the balanced Oxnard scoring.

“We had a positive mind-set coming off the tournament win last week. The guys are starting to understand we are a pretty good basketball team. We are trying to keep balanced and get ready for conference,” commented head coach Jason Cunningham.

Oxnard will face LA Valley tonight at 9:00 in a semi-final matchup.

Oxnard Beats VC to Claim Condor Classic Crown

November 28—Oxnard

The Oxnard College men’s basketball team started the year slowly at 0-4. The Condors are now picking up steam, winning three in a row and the Condor Classic Championship.

The Condors defeated cross-county rival Ventura College 64-65 to claim the prize.

The Condors pounded Santa Barbara City College 63-93 on Saturday night, and downed The Port Hueneme Naval Base 92-105 on Friday.

Scooter Holmes picked up Tournament MVP honors, with teammates Gary Johnson and Malcolm Pope being named All-Tournament performers.

“The players are starting to believe (in themselves) now that they have a taste of winning,” commented head basketball coach Jason Cunningham.

Ventura’s forward James Ennis picked up All-Tourney honors as did Kirby Gardner from San Bernardino CC, Richard Somdah (SBCC), and Julian Caldwell (Fullerton CC).

This was the first time Oxnard College has won their own tourney. The Condor Complex was full of energy, and the event showcased terrific basketball talent throughout the weekend.

Tournament Scoring Recap:

Friday: Santa Barbara over Fullerton 64-62, Oxnard over Naval Base 105-92, San Bernardino over LA Harbor 94-90, Ventura over Stoneridge Prep 71-64

Saturday: Fullerton over Naval Base 82-74, La Harbor over Stoneridge Prep 70-56, Ventura over San Bernardino CC 75-71, Oxnard over SBCC 93-63

Sunday: Fullerton over LA Harbor 74-64, San Bernardino CC over SBCC 77-66, Oxnard over VC 65-64

Oxnard Men’s Basketball Falls to LA Trade Tech       

November 17—Los Angeles           

The Condors dropped a non-conference game to LA Trade-Tech 74-87 on Wednesday night. Oxnard got down early in the first half and trailed 34-46 going in to the break. They played the Beavers nearly even in the second half. Codye Hatcher(pic) and Scooter Holmes scored 18 points for Oxnard

“The team played hard and competed,” said Assistant Coach Jeff Perrault. “We had 24 turnovers and LA Trade Tech beat us in the transition game.”

The loss puts the Condors at 0-4 for the season with their next action at the Condor Classic hosted by Oxnard College starting Friday, November 26th.

Men’s Basketball Stumbles out of the Gate

November 15—Oxnard

The Oxnard College men’s basketball team did not start the season as planned. After dropping the first game at home to a top-10 LA Trade Tech squad, they went to the VC “We Play Hard” Tourney looking for redemption.

The Condors came out on fire against a highly touted Bakersfield team, and lead nearly the entire game. Oxnard was ahead 75-64 with six minutes to play. Markus Falley dropped a three with one minute left to give OC an 82-78 lead. With OC:s fourth goaltending call of the game, Bakersfield took their first lead with nine seconds remaining in the game. Sophomore forward Scooter Holmes got a good look to give the Condors the win, but his effort rolled off the front of the rim as time expired. The final score was Oxnard 82, Bakersfield 83.

In the consolation bracket of the VC Tourney, the Condors came out sluggish. They battled to keep the game against Pasadena City College to a score of 35-34 at the half.

With seven minutes to play, OC trailed 49-62, and ended up dropping their third straight contest 61-75. Freshman Stephan Thompson had 15 points, while Scooter Holmes added 11, in the loss.

The Condors look for revenge against LA Trade Tech this Wednesday at 7:00 in LA.

Scooter Holmes Named as Top 150 Prospect

December 1—Oxnard

Phillip “Scooter” Holmes has been named in the Juco Junction 2011 as one of the nation’s top recruits for 2011. The ranking includes players from every 2-year college, and places Holmes at #109.

Holmes, a 6’ 5” sophomore, is averaging 16 points and recently claimed MVP honors at the Condor Classic Basketball Tourney.

Jason Townsley Receives Academic Scholarship to Gordon College

Oxnard College point guard Jason Townsley will be playing basketball for the Gordon College Fighting Scots next season.

Townsley was a Thousand Oaks HS graduate in 2007. He played one year for the Condors, where he was awarded the WSC All-Academic award, and OC Team Inspirational award from Coach Jason Cunningham.

Jason moves on to the small suburb of Wenham Massachusetts, just outside Boston. “I’m really looking forward to playing for coach Tod Murphy. I’ll be joining a perennial 20-win program that went to the NCAA Div. III Tournament last year.”

Congratulations to Jason—GO CONDORS!

Oxnard goes 0-2 against Pierce

February 17—Oxnard

The men’s team struggled all night against Pierce. They trailed 26-11 at the eight minute mark in the first half.  James Ennis picked up his fourth foul at the end of the first half as he attempted to get the ball back to a referee, and was called for a technical foul.  The bad luck and mistakes mounted, sending the Condors to their second-straight conference loss, 81-61. 

Ennis had 19 points, and Ryan McLucas (left)added 19 points of his own, after being honored with Craig Lee (middle) and Jason Townsley (right), at their final home game for the Condors.  The Condors finish their season at cross-county rival Ventura College on Saturday night (5/7 pm).

Basketball Drops Pair to Santa Barbara

February 13—Oxnard

It was a rough evening for the Condors on Saturday night.  The Ladies dropped the opening game 62-40 to Santa Barbara.  Stephanie Hernandez had 10 points for the Condors, while Shaniqua Perkins added 8.  The game was close at halftime, with the Condors trailing by four.  The game got away in the second-half with several missed layups, and balanced scoring from the Vaqueros.  This puts the Condors at 14-9 and 5-5 in the WSC.

The men didn’t fare much better, going down 80-62.  James Ennis led the way with 18 points, Ryan McLucas had 14 and Scooter Holmes with 13.  The Condors struggled in the second half to defend Santa Barbara’s terrific 3-point shooting, with Daniel Koches hitting five of them for the evening.  The men are at 12-13 overall and 5-5 in conference play.

McLucas Wins Game at Buzzer

February 10—Moorpark

On Wednesday night, the Oxnard College men’s basketball team ran out to a huge 20-4 lead, over rival Moorpark College.  They held the lead until four seconds left in the game.  With Wendell Antoine hitting a basket to give the Raiders a 65-64 lead, Coach Jason Cunningham and Jeff Perrault drew up a play. Ryan McLucas got a good look at a three, and he hit it with no time left on the clock, to give the Condors a 67-65 win. “It was another heart-attack game..but McLucas came up big,” remarked Coach Cunningham.  The win, without OC’s star James Ennis, puts the Condors at 5-4 in the WSC, and ends Moorpark’s (7-3) title hopes.

Condor Basketball Sweeps Hancock

The Oxnard Men had quite the opposite experience.  They came out sluggish to start-- only leading 35-32.  Bryce Showalter came off the bench to lead the scoring at halftime, with nine points (. 

Ryan McLucas got some great looks in the second half, with four- three pointers (six in the game).  He finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.  “Big Game” James Ennis had 16, and Craig Lee had 12.  The Condors took control in the second half, and won convincingly 77-61.

This puts the men’s record at 11-11, and 4-3 in conference, half a game behind Pierce for third.  Both the men and women go on the road to face Cuesta this Saturday, starting at 5 pm.

Oxnard Wins One against VC

January 27, 2010—Oxnard

The men’s game was simply electric. The game was decided in overtime, with the Condors prevailing, 85-82. There were endless story lines, with many of the players coming from local high schools. “I knew everybody out there,” said “Big Game” James  Ennis(left). “It was like playing pickup.” The Oxnard shooting guard, had 24 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals against former Ventura High teammates Paul Batausa and Mike Melonas, who both started for VC.

The Condors (10-11), had to come back from a 14 point deficit with 17 minutes to play, to improve to 3-3 in the Western State Conference’s North Division.  They did this by making 17 of 22 free throws, including 11 straight down the stretch. In overtime, Scooter Holmes made a pair of jumpers to match buckets by Barrera and Harris before Ennis free throws built an 84-82 Oxnard edge

Condors Fall to Pierce

January 23—Woodland Hills

Despite 21 points from Ryan McLucas and 20 points from James Ennis, the Condors fell 71-66 to host Los Angeles Pierce on Saturday night in the first game at renovated Brahma Gym.

“Turnovers down the stretch,” said McLucas. “That’s what hurt us.”

With a chance to pull within one loss of first-place Moorpark, following the Raiders’ win over previous leader Cuesta on Saturday afternoon, Oxnard could only muster one field goal during an eight-minute span down the stretch.

“The door was open and we just closed it on ourselves,” said McLucas. “We felt it. We knew it.”

Oxnard was playing without starting forward Craig Lee, who suffered a hairline nose fracture in practice Thursday.

Behind a game-high 11 points from McLucas, Oxnard was within 34-33 at the half. McLucas buried a 3-pointer to pull the Condors even, 53-53, with 8:40 to play.

But that would be the Condors’ final field goal until McLucas’ layup with 14.9 seconds left. Oxnard led 56-53 with 7:37 to play after one free throw by Scooter Holmes (10 points) and two by Gerald Pitts. (Ventura County Star)

Oxnard Men Get Much Needed Win at Santa Barbara

January 20—Santa Barbara

Trailing by 13 points with 12 minutes to play, the Condors kept its season alive by ripping off runs of 14-3 and 15-3 to get back in the game. Then, with the game tied 73-73 in the final minute, Gerald Pitts (pictured) and Scooter Holmes each made a pair of free throws as Oxnard stopped its two-game losing streak with a 77-73 win at Santa Barbara City.

The win enabled Oxnard (9-10, 2-2), which had nearly dug out of 12-point holes with five minutes to play twice last week in losses to Cuesta and Moorpark, to stay within two games of first-place Cuesta in the loss column.

"We started out the game with four straight turnovers," said Oxnard assistant coach Jeff Perrault. "It was unreal, but we really shared the ball in the second half, getting dunks, open shots and layups"

Holmes had a team-high 23 points, James Ennis had 21 points and Ryan McLucas had 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Reserve Jason Townsley also came off the bench to contribute some solid minutes, making a first-half 3-pointer that helped pull the Condors within 36-30 at the break. (Ventura County Star)

January 20--Santa Barbara

 

Oxnard Loses Two Tough Games to Moorpark

The men had a similar struggle with the Raiders, going down 77-72. James Ennis had 21 points and 6 rebounds for Oxnard. Spencer Holmes had 15 points and 8 rebounds and Ryan McLucas added 11 points for the Condors.  The Condors went on a 14-1 run in the second half, but too little too late for the home team.  The loss left them at 8-10 overall, and 1-2 in the WSC.

Condors Split with Cuesta

January 13 – Oxnard

The men’s team lost a hard-fought battle with Cuesta College.  Scooter (pictured) Holmes had 24 points, Ryan McLucas had 22 points and James Ennis had 14 points as the Condors battled back from a 13-point deficit with five minutes to play. In the end, Oxnard’s 1 of 20 performance from 3-point range was too much to overcome.  The final was 76-74 to put the Condors at 8-9 overall, and 1-1 in the WSC. 

Condor Basketball Sweeps at Hancock

January 9 – Santa Maria

On the men’s side, Oxnard fought back from an 11 point deficit to pull out a 77-73 victory over Hancock.  This pulls the men’s record to 8-8 overall, and puts them at 1-0, in the WSC.  James Ennis led the way with 29 points; Scooter Holmes had a double-double with 18 points and 13 boards, with Ryan McLucas (right) throwing in 19 points of his own.  Oxnard used a 13-1 run to pull away from the Bulldogs, late in the second half.  “This team plays up or down to their competition,” said head coach Jason Cunningham. 

The Condors were very happy to get out of Santa Maria with a pair of victories on the night.

McLucas Lifts Oxnard Men Past San Diego City

December 29--Citrus

Ryan McLucas had five of his team-high 26 points in the final 73 seconds of overtime to lift the Oxnard College  Men's basketball team, 86-82, over San Diego City Tuesday night at Citrus College in Glendora.

Oxnard trailed 82-79 with 1:13 to play when the sophomore from Rio Mesa High buried a pair of jumpers, including a 3-pointer. McLucas also had eight rebounds and eight assists.

James Ennis had 24 points and eight rebounds. Craig Lee added 16 points. Dunell Webb Jr. had 32 points and Travis Wilson added 19 points for San Diego City (3-10). (Ventura County Star)

Oxnard Soars Over State Number One

Thursday night at the Condor Center was electric.  The Oxnard College Condors shocked the Riverside Tigers, who were ranked number one in the state.  James Ennis (left) put on a clinic throughout the game, scoring 27 points, grabbing 9 boards, and adding 6 assists.  Scooter Holmes was not far behind with 21 points and 8 assists.  Oxnard held the lead for the entire game, with the final score 89-79.

Coach Jason Cunningham knew his team was going to be ready for this challenge.  He understands that his team is young and talented.  “They don’t have a problem getting up for this type of game (against a ranked opponent)”.  The Condors beat previously ranked number 3, Antelope Valley earlier in the year, and now number one.  Coach Cunningham understands it is important for this team to develop consistency that will lead wins over teams they expect to beat.

The Condors play Compton next Wednesday at the Condor Center at 5:00.  The Lady Condors will battle College of the Canyons at home on Tuesday at 5:30.  General Admission is $5, children over 12 and seniors are $3, and OC students/faculty/staff are free with ID.  *Free admission will be honored for the Men’s 12/23 game vs. Compton, with a paid ticket stub from the Women’s 12/22 game vs. College of the Canyons.

Condors Face Number One Team in State

The Riverside Tigers bring their number one ranking to the Condor Complex December 17th at 7 p.m. It is a special holiday free admission night, so bring the entire family for an exciting basketball entertainment. 

The Oxnard Men’s basketball team finished second in the Santa Barbara Invitational.  They lost an exciting game against Barstow 67-72. 

The Condors (5-6) started slow in the first half, struggling to cover the Vikings 3-point shooting.  After trailing by as much as 17 points, the Condors made a great run.  Ryan McLucas and Gerald Pitts tightened up the defense while James Ennis, Craig Lee and Scooter Holmes got the Condors to within 3 points.  A tough travelling violation on a potential game-tying fast break ended Oxnard’s comeback bid.

McLucas Lifts Oxnard Men Past San Diego City

 December 29--Citrus

Ryan McLucas had five of his team-high 26 points in the final 73 seconds of overtime to lift the Oxnard College men's basketball team, 86-82, over San Diego City Tuesday night at Citrus College in Glendora.

Oxnard trailed 82-79 with 1:13 to play when the sophomore from Rio Mesa High buried a pair of jumpers, including a 3-pointer. McLucas also had eight rebounds and eight assists.

James Ennis had 24 points and eight rebounds. Craig Lee added 16 points. Dunell Webb Jr. had 32 points and Travis Wilson added 19 points for San Diego City (3-10).

Oxnard shocks No. 3 Antelope Valley, 69-65

November 13 -- Ventura 

Sophomore guard Ryan McLucas had 20 points, 10 rebounds and the game-clinching free throws and sophomore wing Craig Lee added 18 points and nine rebounds as the Condors shocked No. 3 Antelope Valley, 69-65, Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the "We Play Hard" tournament at Ventura College.

"It's a new year," said Lee. "And we're changing things around," said McLucas.

Oxnard (1-1) had dropped the opening game in the eight-team November tournament in each of the past six years by an average margin of 84-60.

"This just goes to show that we're a pretty good team," said Oxnard coach Jason Cunningham. (Ventura County Star)

Men’s Basketball Beats LA Harbor

November 21—Oxnard

The Condors showed their athleticism in the first half, and took a 36-32 lead.  They showed their youth in the second half, and trailed the Seahawks late in the game.  In the end, the Condors had too much talent for LA Harbor.  Behind Scooter Holmes (right), with 21 points, and James Ennis’ (above)16 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, the Oxnard College men's basketball team improved to 3-3 with a 74-68 win over visiting Los Angeles Harbor at the Condor Center.

Oxnard Avenges Loss to LA Valley

December 10—SBCC Tourney

James Ennis, Scooter Holmes, Ryan McLucas (right), and Rashad Stuckey(below) came up huge for the Condors against LA Valley Thursday night.  Ennis (25 points/6 boards), Holmes (23/ 9), McLucas (15 points/ 8 assists), and Stuckey (14 points/7 rebounds/5 blocks) helped OC beat LA Valley 82-72 in the first round of the Santa Barbara Invitational Tourney.  Oxnard was trailing 33-38 at half, with too many turnovers and too many second chance points for LA Valley.  OC turned it around in the second half, rebounded well, and outscored the Monarchs by 15.  Oxnard will face Victor Valley Friday at 9 p.m., in the second round.

 Oxnard Men and Women Fly High to Championship Games

James Ennis scored 19 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had eight assists as the Oxnard College men’s basketball team reached the final of the Santa Barbara City Tournament for the second straight year with a 66-57 win over Victor Valley on Friday night.

  Craig Lee (left) had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Oxnard (5-5). Rashad Stuckey had 11 points and four rebounds and Ryan McLucas added 10 points and four assists as the Condors responded against Victor Valley’s deliberate zone.

 “We felt like this could be a tournament for us to get back on the right path to playing better basketball,” said Oxnard coach Jason Cunningham.

 Oxnard will attempt to defend its tournament title against Barstow tonight at 7. “We’re up here to defend our title,” said Cunningham. (Ventura County Star)