Orange County Community College Basketball : This Time Around, Cypress Can Look Past the Regular Season

There is a basic difference between the Cypress College basketball team of this season and last year’s team.

This season’s team is eligible for postseason playoffs.

The Chargers were put on probation for recruiting violations before last season and were not allowed to participate in postseason play.

The violations resulted from an out-of-district visit the Cypress coaching staff made to the home of Jeff Livesay of Norco High School.

The Chargers were 24-6 overall and finished second in the South Coast Conference with a 14-2 record, one game behind champion Cerritos.

But, as teams with lesser records such as Fullerton (14-15) moved into the playoffs, the Chargers stayed home.

“It was really unfortunate that it happened,” Cypress Coach Don Johnson said. “That was one of our finer teams and the kids were really ready.”

Livesay, who averaged 6.5 points for the Chargers, left Cypress, returned to play for Riverside, then was ruled academically ineligible and will not play this season.

Four Orange County teams will be part of the new Orange Empire Conference--Saddleback, Rancho Santiago, Orange Coast and Cypress. They will be joined by Riverside and Citrus.

Here’s a look at the Orange County teams in the Orange Empire Conference:

Most opposing coaches believe Cypress is the league favorite, but Johnson is having nothing of that. “We’re going in with the most inexperienced team in our 20-year history,” Johnson said. “We will have to count on our returning players for leadership and scoring.”

The other two positions will be filled by freshman.

Johnson says Jim Sammon from El Dorado High School is too talented to keep on the bench and will start at off-guard or forward; 6-6 Kris Brodowski from Pacifica will start up front.

“Our season might depend a little on Olivarez, he has very good range and can do many things for us,” Johnson said. “Dave Kirksey will also need to have a good year for us to survive.”

“That should be the strongest part of our team,” OCC Coach Tandy Gillis said.

The Pirates will start no one taller than 6-5 but will have three forwards with some experience. Mike Kelly averaged 5.6 points before breaking his foot last season and will be joined by 6-5 Matt Judd and 6-4 Rob Mass. Mass redshirted last season because of a lingering toe infection.

“Rebounding is a very big question mark,” Gillis said. “So we’re really going to have to lean and block out on the defensive boards extremely well.”

Returning are 6-6 Howard Cole, 6-7 Brent Martin and 6-3 guard Simon Thomas. Cole averaged 14 points last season and Martin 11.7.

“The guys who returned improved by just having a year of experience behind them,” Coach Dana Pagett said. “In fact, experience should be one of the more important factors for us.”

Sophomore Victor Wharton came to the Dons from Taft after its program disbanded. Chris Jefferson came from Cal State Bakersfield and Chris Jackson, who played for Mater Dei High School in 1985, left US Santa Barbara and will play for the Dons this season.

Ralph Garcia, a freshman from Canyon High School, is also expected to play.

Scott Dwinell, a 6-9 sophomore from El Toro who averaged 3.5 points in limited playing time, will start at center. Tom Desiano, who averaged 6.2 assists, will play point guard, and Mike Minier, who averaged 10.4 points, will play the other forward.

Freshman Vincent Smalls from University is expected to play forward, and Renny Ingram, from Dominguez in Los Angeles, is expected to be the other guard.

“We should be a good ballhandling and shooting team,” Coach Bill Brummel said. “We are just tentative right now, and we’re not sure what we can do.”

Conference Notes

The teams will play a home-and-home 10-game conference schedule. Riverside was 31-4 last season but was upset in the first round of the playoffs by Mt. San Antonio. The Tigers’ only returning player is 6-5 Aaron Rounds, but five freshmen will start. Citrus was 10-20 and has 6-6 Rob Arret back.