It was a week of ups and downs as the Ventura boys basketball team opened their season with two wins and one loss.

Ventura 55, CAL 31

The team opened their season with a commanding 55-31 win over CAL on Monday, Nov. 25, at home.
The Vikings dominated from the beginning, collecting 19 points in both the first and second quarters. The halftime score was 38-13. The Vikings didn’t relent in the third quarter. They picked up nine points to the Cadets’ three. The reserve players took over the fourth quarter and the Cadets outscored the Vikings, 16-8.
“We played really well for three quarters, holding them in single digits,” said Coach Nick Schauf. “We did not shoot particularly well, but our defense was very good.
Cody Kadolph led the team with 18 points, nine of which he collected from the three-point line. Rounding out the scoring was Aaron Christians with eight and Tyler Betz with six. Picking up five points apiece were Tyler Peterson, Jeremiah Hagen and Jarod Callison. Josh Henely and Brian Mostrom had two points apiece, while Scott Watson and Kevin Waldron had one point each.
Peterson and Callison each connected on a three-point shot.
Defensive leaders included Betz who had five rebounds, one blocked shot and three steals; Peterson had two rebounds and three steals; Watson had two rebounds and two blocked shots; Henely had three rebounds and one blocked shot; Matt Grell had three rebounds and two blocked shots and Brandon Harthan had four steals.

Garner-Hayfield 61, Ventura 45

It was a defensive battle when the Garner-Hayfield Cardinals visited the Viking gym on Tuesday, Nov. 27.
Cody Kadolph opened the game by sinking a three-point shot and bringing the Ventura fans to their feet, but Garner-Hayfield fought back and gained a slight two point lead by the end of the first quarter. The Vikings let up their intensity in the second quarter and the Cards jumped to a 31-21 halftime lead. Ventura just couldn’t get back into the game in the second half and the Cardinals captured the 61-45 victory.
“We had too many turnovers in the first half and that is what killed us. Garner played well and it was hard for us to play catch-up the whole second half,” said Coach Nick Schauf.
Kadolph and Tyler Betz were the only players in double figures with 12 points apiece. Josh Henely and Tyler Peterson had eight and seven points respectively. Brian Mostrom picked up four points and Jeremiah Hagen had two.
Kadolph and Betz led the team in a number of categories. Kadolph had seven rebounds, two blocked shots and six steals. While Betz grabbed nine rebounds and had two blocked shots and two steals. Mostrom and Henely each grabbed four rebounds.

Ventura 60, CWL 51

The game on Friday night, Nov. 30, in Corwith was full of surprises for the Ventura Vikings. After dominating the Panthers in the first half, 31-15, CWL clawed their way back into the game and closed the gap to within nine points by the end of the game.
Cold shooting and missed freethrows in the second half definitely plagued the Vikings. The Panthers outscored Ventura 23-15 in the fourth quarter. CWL also started fouling in the fourth quarter to regain control of the ball. Their plan worked, as the Viking’s were having a hard time hitting their free throws.
“It was nice to get the win with the way we shot from the freethrow line. Shooting 22-47 usually means that you will not win the game, but somehow we pulled it off,” said Coach Nick Schauf. “I think our defense is what did it for us.”
Tyler Betz led the team with 18 points, followed closely by Cody Kadolph with 17. Josh Henely collected 11 points, while Jeremiah Hagen had six points. Brian Mostrom and Tyler Peterson rounded out the scoring with five and three points respectively.
Four team members hit a three-point shot, Kadolph, Mostrom, Peterson and Hagen.
Rebound leaders included Betz with 10, Kadolph grabbed five and Henely had four.
“Teams will get up to play us because we are the defending conference champs, so we will always have a target on our backs,” said Schauf.
The Vikings are home on Friday night, Dec. 7, when they host W-CL-T.

Laying it in
Ventura’s Tyler Betz easily gets around a Cadet defender to lay the ball in for two more points for the Vikings. -Reporter photo by Michelle Watson