Cypress College Tournament : Rancho Santiago Defeats Cypress

Despite a series of defensive combinations, Cypress College couldn’t find one to stop Rancho Santiago sophomore guard Simon Thomas.

Thomas, from Fountain Valley High School, was double-teamed. The Chargers also tried a zone, but he still scored a season-high 28 points, including four three-pointers, to lead the Dons to a 93-75 victory over Cypress in the final of the Cypress College Thoroughbred Tournament Saturday night. Much of the first half was close and the teams were tied six times, including 39-39 with four minutes left in the half. Then Thomas took over and scored on a three-point shot and a layup as the Dons opened a 45-39 lead at the half.

The second half was much the same as the Dons were able to increase the lead at a steady rate.

Early in the half, the Chargers (8-7) cut the lead to three, 47-44, on a thee-point basket by sophomore guard Andy Olivarez. But the Dons went on a 15-6 run that included two three-pointers by Thomas and led 64-51 with 11:11 left.

With 9:08 left the Dons had increased the lead to 72-57.

“I just thought we played very well,” said Dana Pagett, Rancho Santiago coach. “It was a nice win but it was not conference.”

The Dons meet the Chargers twice more this season in the Orange Empire Conference, which starts Jan. 14 for both teams.

Besides the outside shooting of Thomas, the Dons (11-3) were also able to exploit the middle of the Cypress defense because starting 6-foot 8-inch center Dave Kirksey missed the game because of an infected left elbow.

The Chargers tried to play forward Jeff Green in the middle but the 6-4 freshman could not stop the Dons, who were led inside by center Bret Martin. Martin scored a season-high 25 points, 15 in the second half.

Martin was voted the most valuable player of the tournament and Thomas was voted to the first team.

Chris Jefferson scored 18 points and Chris Jackson 11 for the Dons.

The Chargers were led by Green’s 14 and Olivarez and Jim Sammon, who scored 13 each.

In other Cypress games:

L.A. Harbor 87, Fullerton 80 (OT)--Troy Joseph made a three-point shot for the Hornets as time ran out in regulation to tie the game, 78-78, and send it into overtime.

The Seahawks outscored Fullerton, 9-2, in overtime to win the consolation game.

Joseph was the leading scorer for Fullerton with 17 points. He also had a game-high 12 rebounds. Teammate Jim Mansfield scored 13.

Mark Hill scored 25 for L.A. Harbor and teammate Brent Hosson 18.

In the Riverside Tournament:

Saddleback 67, Ventura 56--Vincent Smalls and Mike Minier each scored 18 points as the Gauchos won the championship game. The victory was the eighth straight for Saddleback (11-3).

In the Glendale Tournament:

Gray’s Harbor 74, Golden West 65--Bill Van scored 22 points to lead Gray’s Harbor over the Rustlers for the consolation championship. Freshman center Jim Stewart had 18 points and Anthony Howard 14 for Golden West (3-7).