Community College Basketball : Minier Leads Saddleback Past Cypress for Win

For most of the game Wednesday night, Saddleback College’s Mike Minier was not a vital part of the offense. He scored two points in the first half and took four shots.

But Minier made two three-point baskets and two free throws in the final eight minutes to lead the Gauchos to 61-59 victory over Cypress in a men’s Orange Empire Conference basketball game at Cypress.

The victory keeps Saddleback (7-2, 22-6) one game behind Rancho Santiago. The teams play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Rancho Santiago in the final conference game.

If Saddleback wins, a one-game playoff for the conference title will be held, but both teams already have qualified for the state playoffs. The conference champion would get a first-round playoff bye.

Cypress led, 33-26, at the half and held the lead for the first 11 minutes of the second half.

Saddleback took the lead on the first three-point basket by Minier to put the Gauchos ahead, 46-44. It was the first time Saddleback was ahead since leading 1-0.

Jim Sammon tied the score, 46-46, on a 10-foot jumper, but Minier put Saddleback ahead, 49-46, on another three-pointer.

Minier’s free throws came with 34 seconds left and put Saddleback ahead, 58-52.

“Coach says to go ahead and take those shots (three-pointers),” Minier said. “He trusts me so I put it up with as much confidence as I can.”

Minier finished with 10 points, 8 in the final eight minutes. Vincent Smalls led the Gauchos with 20 points. Tom Desiano scored 13 and Scott Dwinell had 10 for Saddleback.

Andy Olivarez led Cypress with 22 points, 20 coming in the first half. Olivarez, who leads the conference in scoring with a 22.4 a game average, scored 20 of Cypress’ first 26 points including four three-point baskets.

“It wasn’t a matter of what we did differently in the second half to stop him (Olivarez),” said Bill Brummel, Saddleback coach. “We just tried guarding him. He was open an awful lot in the first half.”

The Gauchos spread their zone defense early in the second half to put more outside pressure on Olivarez but he passed inside to center Dave Kirksey, who scored nine points, all in the second half, and forward Kris Brodowski (eight points).

The loss leaves Cypress (5-4, 17-13) in third, one game ahead of Citrus (4-5) in the race for the final automatic playoff berth.

Cypress is at Riverside Friday and Orange Coast is at Citrus.

In other conference action:

Rancho Santiago 100, Citrus 86--Simon Thomas scored 26 points and Howard Cole added 23 to lead the Dons (8-1, 25-4) at home. The victory clinched at least a tie for the conference championship for Rancho Santiago.

Orange Coast 66, Riverside 61--Mike Kelly scored 20 points and had 10 rebounds to lead the Pirates (3-6, 21-9) at home. OCC’s Matt Judd had 14 points and 8 rebounds. Riverside’s Mike Stewart led all scorers with 25 points.

In South Coast Conference action:

Fullerton 108, Golden West 76--Fullerton had 10 players score, led by Troy Joseph’s 18 points. The Hornets (5-8, 17-13) led 15-10 before going on a 20-0 run midway through the first quarter. Jim Mansfield added 16 for Fullerton. Jim Stewart led Golden West (0-13).

In South Coast Conference women’s action:

Golden West 72, Fullerton 68--Stacy Barnes scored 20 points, Jeannine Battaglia 17 and April Marion 16 points to lead Golden West (13-0 in conference) at Fullerton. Rochell Seabrook had 20 points for Fullerton (9-4).