Community College Basketball : Saddleback Beats West L.A. in State Playoffs

Saddleback College held West Los Angeles to five points in the first 15 minutes of the second half and the Gauchos defeated the Oilers, 64-44, Saturday in the first round of the Southern Section men’s state playoffs at Saddleback.

Saddleback (23-7) plays Antelope Valley (16-13) in the second round Wednesday at Saddleback.

The Gauchos led, 29-24, at halftime went on a 9-0 run in the first five minutes of the second half to lead, 38-24. The game was never close after that.

Saddleback used its collapsing zone defense to shutdown West Los Angeles’ top scorer La Var Ball, who was averaging 22.8 points a game for most of the game.

Ball scored seven points but none in the second half. He had the ball four times in the second half, missed a shot and was called for traveling the other three times. He was removed with 8:43 to play and didn’t return.

Saddleback got a team-high 14 points from Tom Desiano and 11 each from Mike Minier and Tony Villanueva.

Villanueva was 4 of 4 from the field, including two three-point baskets. He also had eight rebounds and eight assists.

Vincent Smalls scored nine points and Scott Dwinell eight for Saddleback. George Copeland scored a game-high 19 for West Los Angeles (15-14).

In other first round games:

Cypress 98, San Bernardino Valley 76--Andy Olivarez scored 36 points and had 8 rebounds to led the Chargers at Cypress. Jim Sammon scored 19 and Jeff Green 10 for Cypress (18-14), which plays at Imperial Valley Wednesday.

San Bernardino Valley finished 19-13.

Orange Coast 99, College of the Canyons 63--Mike Kelly scored 26 points, Chuck McGavran 17 and Brad Davis 14 as the Pirates (23-9) advanced to the second round at Costa Mesa.

Rob Mase added 12 for OCC, which will play at El Camino Wednesday in the second round at El Camino.

Ron Sapp scored 16 and was the only College of the Canyons (17-15) player in double-figures.

Mt. San Jacinto 89, Fullerton 82--The loss eliminates the Hornets (17-15), who lost 8 of their last 9 games.