Orange County Community College Basketball : Golden West Hurting, Loses Players Then Game to El Camino

Before the season, Golden West Coach Jim Greenfield wasn’t sure if there was a team in the South Coast Conference his team could beat.

The Rustlers were 5-22 last season and had one sophomore on the roster this season.

To make matters worse, four Golden West players had been hit by injuries, leaving the team with eight for the first week of conference play.

Golden West was without starting guards Rick Hergott and Tony Rizk and reserves Garet Bonham and Elbert Davis Saturday night.

El Camino easily defeated the undermanned Rustlers, 91-65, at Huntington Beach.

El Camino (2-0, 14-3) opened a 35-18 lead early in the first half, which was expected.

But to the dismay of El Camino Coach Paul Landreaux, the Warriors then went into a slump, missing nine consecutive shots and not scoring for a little more than four minutes.

The drought, linked with a suddenly solid Golden West offense led by freshman Jim Stewart, cut the lead to 39-34 with 1:29 to play in the half.

Stewart, who is averaging 19 points a game, scored 11 points in the first half and 22 in the game.

Just when Golden West appeared to be back in the game, El Camino scored the next six points and led, 45-34, at the half.

Two baskets by Stewart early in the second half made the score, 47-39, but the Warriors scored the next 13 points and led, 60-39, with 11:10 left.

Golden West (0-2, 4-11) couldn’t take advantage of the three-point shot to get back in the game in a hurry because of the injuries to Hergott and Rizk. Both are shooting better than 50% from beyond the 19-foot 9-inch line.

“We played hard,” Greenfield said. “But their superior talent just got to us after a while.”

Golden West, which started with eight healthly players, was down to six after Gary Brown fouled out with 6:55 left. Forward Pat Beck had fouled out with 10:41 left.

Freshman Charles White scored a game-high 28 points for the Warriors. Teammate Kirkland Howling had 18.

Anthony Howard scored 17 and Darren Snow 11 for Golden West.

In other South Coast Conference action: Fullerton 66, Long Beach 63--Bart Hakeman scored 22 points to lead the Hornets to the South Coast Conference victory at Long Beach. Michael Green also scored 20 points for Long Beach.

Long Beach missed a desperation length of the court shot that would have tied the game.

The Hornets is 2-0 and 14-5. Long Beach is 1-1, 10-9.

In other games:

Orange Coast 73, Tustin Marines 66--Matt Judd had 22 points and Rob Mase 13 as the Pirates (18-3) won the nonconference game at home.

Marcus Johnson scored 18 points and Gregory Pinke had 16 for Tustin (7-10).