The Oxnard Condors were not lacking heart on the court Saturday night, but they could not find the open window they needed to beat the Moorpark College men’s basketball team at home.
Playing in front of a split crowd at Moorpark College, both teams had equal fan support, and even though the Condors had no problem driving the ball to the hoop, they could not put the ball in the basket.
“We’re playing in front of a great crowd,” said Moorpark head coach Remy McCarthy. “For us, at the college, that’s rare.”
The Raiders sailed easily to a 112-72 victory. Moorpark left Oxnard floundering like a fish out of water, winless against the Raiders. Moorpark had an impressive 23-7 record this season, giving nothing to Oxnard. In Saturday’s game, the attitude was “no fouls no points,” and that’s what the plays came down to. Both teams’ top scoring players had to give up multiple fouls, each to keep the game competitive, but in the second half, Oxnard just could not keep up.
From the very first period the Raiders were out in front, leading the game by 10, while Oxnard tried to keep up, struggling on their shots outside the key.
“What we need to do is cut down on the turnovers in the second half,” said Oxnard Assistant Coach Dorian Guerrero during the half-time break.
Oxnard’s Spenser Davis seemed to be a one man team, scoring 22 points on Saturday, but that still left the Condors practically scoreless from the three point mark in the first half.
In the second half, Moorpark went ablaze, sinking every shot they took, expanding their lead, and shaking Oxnard up on the free throw line.
Moorpark’s Keith Lawrence and Caise Burris opened up in the second half, sinking shot after shot from 3-point land, leaving both players with 4 3-point field goals each for the game.
Ivan Burrigan made 22 baskets for the Raiders, allowing him to take game honors for the most points scored, followed by Keith Lawrence, who scored a total of 20 points.
The conclusion was an easy win for Moorpark and tough loss for the Condors.
The last game of the season scheduled for the Raiders before they go into the state playoffs is against L.A West, and it looks like it’s shaping up to be a tough game.
“The LA West game is going to be a big one,” said McCarthy.
Driving for a strong position in the WSC North, the Raiders will have four more state tournaments after the L.A. West Game starting on Feb. 22 before they reach the state finals.
