On Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, the Moorpark College men’s basketball team traveled North to Ventura College, where they would meet Western State Conference division rival, the Pirates.
The Raiders entered the match riding a four-game winning streak, with their most recent coming against Santa Barbara City College. With only four conference games remaining, a win against the Pirates could be pivotal in the team’s pursuit of the number one seed in their division.
From the game’s onset, it appeared that the Raider men would be in for a challenging battle with the hard-nosed play of the Ventura defense. Fortunately, Moorpark’s defense was more than eager to match the aggressive play style of their opponent.
Standout forward Jamaal Unuakalu proved a worthy adversary, registering four of his game-high eight blocks in the first 20 minutes of basketball. The Chatsworth High product ensured that the trying Pirates team would take note of his play, if not on offense, then on the other end of the hardwood.
“It’s just about tuning out whatever they are saying. I already knew I was having a bad offensive game, so I knew they were going to adjust to me, so I’m just going to play defense and focus on that and to help my team out the best I can,” the six-foot-seven freshman explained.
With 10 minutes and 50 seconds in the first half, Moorpark found their first lead since the opening sequence, thanks to a timely three-pointer from freshman guard Avi Halpert of Shalhevet High School. The team retained their lead as the first half concluded and went into the locker room up 28-31.
The two teams picked up where they left off in the second half, continuing a back-and-forth dance of trading baskets through the first six minutes.
The Raider offense started to get into a groove and earned themselves their first double-digit lead of the game with just over six minutes to play. Ventura would not go quietly, though, storming back into contention and putting themselves within two points of the lead as the last minute of half number two began.
From that point on, there was an incredible display of effort and will from both teams. The Pirates charged down the court and put themselves back in front for the first time in the second half.
With just 45 seconds left, the Raiders needed a basket down one. As the ball is pushed down the court, Halpert finds a seam, drives toward the hoop, and is fouled with 27 ticks left on the game clock. He was sent to the line to shoot two free throws, which could put his team up by one if both were made. He stepped up to the line and confidently delivered on both attempts.
The starting guard would find himself right back in that same situation only 25 seconds later after a Ventura layup found the bottom of the net. Down one, with two seconds left in the game, Halpert had to do it all again, this time with more significant implications.
“I know how much time I put into it. I know that every time I shoot free throws, I try to put pressure on myself in practice, so it’s just trusting my work.”
The final two points of Halpert’s game-high 25 points came as a pair of game-winning free throws. The final buzzer sounded, signifying a 71-72 victory. It delivered a feeling of relief for the Raiders and head coach Keith Higgins, who expressed his pride in his team after their closest win of the year.
“They dealt with adversity. I think that was good, dealing with mental toughness,” the Raiders’ coach said. “This was like one of the first times we had to deal with adversity. A lot of teams would have given up, but our team kept going.”
Moorpark’s next challenge presents itself as the 20-4 Allan Hancock Bulldogs, who will travel to Moorpark riding an impressive 18-game winning streak. The two Western State Conference north division front-runners will compete for sole possession of the number one seed on Feb. 14.
