Community College Basketball : Rancho Santiago Hangs On to Edge Cypress

It was more a matter of survival than anything else, but Rancho Santiago College managed to defeat Cypress, 78-77, Saturday night in Orange Empire Conference action in Santa Ana.

It was the 14th consecutive victory for the Dons, who are alone in first place after Saddleback was upset by Orange Coast, 56-51, Saturday.

Rancho Santiago came into the game as the second-ranked team in Southern California--behind Saddleback--and No. 4 in the state.

Cypress was 10th in Southern California and 19th in the state.

Rancho Santiago (3-0, 20-3) played a roller-coaster kind of game, moving out to big leads twice but finally just hanging on thanks to key baskets by sophomore center Brent Martin and sophomore forward Chris Jackson.

Cypress didn’t score in the last 2:39 of the first half, and the Dons led at halftime, 42-31. The lead grew to 50-36 three times into the second half.

After a Cypress timeout, the Chargers went on a 14-0 run to tie the game, 50-50, with 13.39 left.

The Chargers took a 64-61 lead on a five-foot jumper by Andy Olivarez with 7:07 remaining.

The sophomore forward had just returned from the bench, where he had sat more than six minutes after picking up his fourth foul.

Olivarez, who leads the conference in scoring with a 28.3 average through three games, scored a game-high 36 points, including 23 in the first half.

Martin came off the bench a minute after Olivarez’s return, and immediately took control of the middle. Martin’s hook shot in the lane put the Dons ahead, 67-66, with 4:14 left. His offensive rebound and layup gave the Dons a 69-66 lead with 3:24 remaining. Martin finished with 19 points.

Jackson, who scored 15 points made a key basket off a missed Martin free throw. He slid between two Cypress defenders to get the rebound and his layup gave Rancho Santiago a 74-lead with 50 seconds left.

John Jackson made a three-point basket with one second remaining to pull Cypress within a point, 78-77.

Chris Jefferson scored a team-high 22 for the Dons.

“I think we played pretty well,” said Dana Pagett, Rancho Santiago coach. “We knew they were a good team and they would give us a heck of a game.”

Kris Brodowski was the only other Cypress player in double figures with 14 points, 12 in the second half.

Orange Coast 56, Saddleback 51--Chuck McGavran scored 19 points, including five three-point field goals, to lead the Pirates past Saddleback at Costa Mesa. The Pirates (1-2, 19-5) snapped a two-game losing streak.

Tom Desiano led Saddleback (2-1, 17-5) with 19 points, making 7 of 11 field-goal attempts. Vincent Smalls added 13 points.

In the South Coast Conference:

Fullerton 77, Golden West 52--Troy Joseph scored 16 points and Alan Fraser added 13 points and 12 rebounds as the Hornets (4-2, 6-17) won at Fullerton.

Golden West (0-6, 4-15) shot 30%.