Community College Basketball : It’s Surprises All Around as Top-Ranked Cerritos Falls to Cypress, 67-64

The Cypress College men’s basketball team accomplished what Chargers Coach Don Johnson thought was impossible by upsetting Cerritos, the top-ranked team in the state, 67-64, Saturday night at Cypress.

The Chargers (18-5) snapped the Falcons’ 22-game winning streak and moved into a tie for first place in the South Coast Conference standings with Cerritos (22-2) at 8-1.

And nobody was more surprised than Johnson.

“Jack Long, my assistant, and I were talking before the game, and we really didn’t feel we had a way to beat them,” Johnson said. “They have so much depth that you can’t just shut off one aspect of their game or they’ll beat you in other ways.”

Cypress was able to slow down the Falcons’ dangerous Tom Tolbert, a 6-foot 9-inch center. Tolbert, who entered the game averaging 21 points a game in conference play, was held to 14 points, high for the Falcons.

After trailing by six with 15:38 left in the game, the Chargers’ Bill Dobbs went to work. Dobbs, who finished with a game-high 21 points, scored 10 of his team’s 21 points in an 8:30 span as Cypress took a three-point lead, 57-54, with 7:02 remaining.

The two teams exchanged baskets until, with 1:08 left, Tolbert made the front end of a one-and-one to tie the score at 62. Tolbert missed the second shot, Cypress rebounded and Scott Swanner beat the defense for an easy layup with 37 seconds remaining to put Cypress ahead, 64-62.

Cerritos still had several chances to tie. Willie Joseph missed a routine 15-foot jump shot with 17 seconds left. Andy Olivarez, who led the Chargers with nine rebounds in his first start, swatted the ball out to Swanner, who was fouled with 16 seconds left. Swanner made both free throws to put Cypress ahead, 66-62.

Cerritos worked the ball up court again and, with seven seconds left, Tolbert drew a foul. He made both free throws to make it 66-64 and Cerritos immediately fouled Cypress on the ensuing inbounds pass.

Paul Horn made the first of a one-plus-one with five seconds remaining, but missed the second. Cerritos rebounded and a desperation shot by Kelly Andrews with one second left bounced off the rim.

“That was maybe the most intense game we’ve played in the second half,” Johnson said. “But it was not the most error-free game we’ve played.”

In other South Coast Conference action:

Mt. San Antonio 82, Fullerton 73--The Mounties took advantage at the free-throw line, hitting on 22 of 26 attempts, to beat the Hornets at Fullerton. Forward Cletus Jarmon led Mt. SAC (7-2, 17-5) with 27 points, and teammate James Jones added 21. Fullerton (5-4, 11-11) was paced by Stevie Snow’s 22 points.

Compton 64, Saddleback 58--The Tartars made 13 of 15 free throws in the last two minutes, including eight from Chris Williams (24 points) to beat the Gauchos at Sadleback. Compton is 4-5 in conference and 12-10 overall. Mike Miner scored 14 points for Saddleback, but it was not enough as the Gauchos fell to 3-6 in conference and 8-12 overall.

Rancho Santiago 72, Golden West 70--Brent Martin followed his own missed free throw with a rebound and a basket with three seconds left to give the Dons a win over the Rustlers at Golden West. The loss was the Rustlers’ 25th straight in conference play. Mark Moses led the Dons (3-6, 15-9) with 18 points. Bryon Strachan scored 24 points for Golden West (0-9, 4-16).