JC BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP : Columbia Beats Ventura for Title, 97-88
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SAN FRANCISCO — Guard Tyrone Latimer scored a game-high 37 points to help Columbia upset Ventura, 97-88, in the junior college basketball state championship game Saturday night at the University of San Francisco.
Columbia, which was ranked second in the state, finished 32-2. Ventura, which was ranked No. 1, finished 37-2.
It is the first state title for Columbia. The Claim Jumpers were the state runners-up to El Camino in 1988.
Ventura, which won state titles in 1952 and 1987, could not get its offense going after pulling to within 54-51 at halftime.
Columbia took leads of 68-60 and 74-63 during the second half before going ahead, 79-65, with 9:32 to play.
Guard Tony Sanders scored 20 points for Columbia.
Brandon Jessie scored a team-high 31 points for Ventura and Joey Ramirez had 19.
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