Despite being the only team in the state with an undefeated record, Ventura College is seeded number two in the Southern California playoff brackets, behind defending state champion Mt. San Antonio.
The reasoning behind the seeding was the relative “weakness” of the Western State Conference North Division. Ventura did, however, manage to beat Mt. San Antonio twice this season, yet they remain the number two seed behind them because of their “weak” division.
Ventura College Pirates coach Ned Mercetic was not concerned at all with the seeding, only primarily putting his focus on their first-round game.
“It is just the way the process turned out,” Mercetic said. “It is what it is, and we can only prepare for the next game.”
To shed some light on the matter, Coach Mercetic was named the Western State Conference North Division Coach of the Year. In addition, five Pirates players were voted onto the Western State Conference North Division All-Conference team, including one honorable mention.
Mercetic was the first to compliment his player’s performance after winning the Coach of the Year award. “The Coach of the Year award is a spin-off on the kind of players you have,” Mercetic said. “The award is the frosting on the cake to a great performance by a great group of kids.”
Coach Mercetic also found it remarkable that five players made the All-WSC Team. “Five players making the All-Conference Team is rather phenomenal,” he stated. “It says a lot about how well they play together.”
The Pirates are set to host the winner of Wednesday night’s meeting between L.A. Pierce and Citrus. The Pirates’ playoff game on Saturday Feb. 28th will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Athletic Event Center.
When asked which team he would prefer to play, Coach Mercetic stated he had no real preference. “I have no preference for either team,” said Mercetic. “We our just happy to be in the playoffs.”
Either way, Ventura’s perfect regular season will be put to the test Saturday night in the first-round of the Southern California playoffs.
