Ventura Hands Canyons Tough Loss, 113-90

Leland Wigington scored 15 points and handed out 22 assists to lead Ventura College to a 113-90 victory over College of the Canyons in a Western State Conference men’s basketball game Saturday night at Canyons.

Canyons has lost three straight conference games and six of its past eight overall.

The game was never close. Ventura (21-4, 7-1 in conference) raced to a 56-41 halftime lead and extended the margin in the second half. Garett Worden and Cedric Ceballos each scored 21 points to lead all scorers.

For Canyons, Anthony Hines had a team-high 20 points. Other Cougars players in double figures were Mitch McMullen with 16, Butch Mettinger with 14 and Ron Stapp with 10.

The loss all but eliminated Canyons (13-13, 2-6) from contention for a berth in the state regional playoffs.

With five conference games remaining, the Cougars are in last place in the South Division of the conference. Of its final five opponents, Canyons lost to three earlier in conference play.

Ventura leads the North Division by a game over Santa Barbara. Glendale leads the South Division by a game over Bakersfield.

Only the top two teams from each conference are guaranteed a berth in the state regional playoffs, which begin March 3.