Orange County Community College Basketball : Olivarez Leads Cypress’ Upset of Orange Coast, 85-81

Sophomore Andy Olivarez scored 38 points, including six in overtime, to lead Cypress College to an 85-81 upset of Orange Coast Wednesday night in the Orange Empire Conference opener for both teams at Cypess.

The Chargers (13-9) had struggled at times in nonconference games but won the final two games of the Rotary National Shootout in Arizona to take the consolation championship last Wednesday.

More important than the victories was the improved play of Olivarez. In the final two games in Arizona, he scored 66 points, including a school-record 44 against Navajo, Ariz., in Cypress’ 74-73 victory last Tuesday.

Olivarez has scored 104 points in the last three games, hitting 39 of 55 from the floor and 10 of 15 from the three-point area.

He was 3 of 5 on three-point attempts against Orange Coast (0-1, 18-4), 14 of 21 from the field and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line.

His final three-point basket came 15 seconds into overtime to give Cypress a 75-72 lead.

“It was open, so I took it,” Olivarez said about the first overtime shot.

The game went beyond regulation when OCC’s Mike Kelly rebounded Jim Sammon’s missed free throw and weaved through falling bodies to make a 10-foot shot to tie the score at 72-72 as time expired.

For the first 10 minutes of the game, Orange Coast played like the No. 4-ranked team in Southern California it is and led, 31-20, with six minutes left in the half.

But as the Cypress players gathered on the court during a break with 5:49 left, Olivarez reminded them of the games in Arizona.

A now-inspired Cypress outscored OCC, 14-8, in the final six minutes of the half to trail at halftime, 39-34.

Kelly scored 18 points for Orange Coast, Reid Lukes added 13, Rob Mase 12, Mat Judd 11 and Chuck McGavran 10. Judd, Mase, Kelly and Brad Davis fouled out.

Eric Krivashei, John Jackson and Kris Brodowski scored 10 each for Cypress. Jackson and Dave Kirksey fouled out.

In other Orange Empire action:

Saddleback 84, Citrus 72--Vincent Smalls scored 18 points and Mike Minier and Renny Ingram each added 17 as the Gauchos won the conference opener for both teams at Citrus. Citrus’ Kevin Kurz led all scorers with 21 points. Saddleback is 16-4 overall, Citrus is 11-8.

Rancho Santiago 110, Riverside 71--Chris Jefferson scored a season-high 30 points to lead the Dons (1-0, 18-3) to a victory at Riverside. Victor Wharton and Brent Martin added 18 points each for Rancho Santiago. Mike Stewart scored 22 points for Riverside (0-1, 12-13).

In South Coast Conference action:

Pasadena City 99, Golden West 68--The Lancers had five players score in double figures as they rolled past the Rustlers at Golden West. Pasadena City (1-2, 10-9) was led by the McCullough brothers, as freshman guard Alcus scored 22 points and freshman center Leroy added 14. High scorer for Golden West (0-3, 4-12) was freshman guard Anthony Howard with 20 points.

Compton 80, Fullerton 65--Troy Joeseph and Alan Fraser each scored 12 points to lead the Hornets (2-1, 14-6) at Fullerton. Andre Wiley scored 34 points to lead Compton (2-1, 13-4).

In women’s action:

Orange Empire Conference:

Riverside City College 78, Rancho Santiago 57--Vanessa Johnson scored 21 points to lead the Tigers in the conference opener for both teams at Santa Ana. Rancho Santiago (10-10) was led by Demerial Gibson with 17 points.

South Coast Conference:

Golden West 70, Pasadena City College 61--April Marion scored 16 points to lead the Rustlers (3-0, 20-1) at Pasadena. Charolette Taulton had 20 points for Pasadena (1-2 in conference).