Community College Notebook : OCC Freshman Learns Defense Has Big Place on Basketball Court

Gilly Powell has discovered a new basketball concept this season--defense.

Powell, a freshman post player for the Orange Coast College women’s team, hadn’t thought much about defense before coming to OCC.

She had been more interested in developing her jump shot and her quick first step to the basket when she played for Woodbridge High School.

“I used to just go out and play without worrying about what I did on the court,” Powell said. “I just sort of played. Now there are so many good players that you have to play good defense.”

Powell’s new interest in defense hasn’t caused her offense to suffer any.

This season isn’t a month old and she has already set OCC’s single-game scoring record.

Powell scored 37 points in OCC’s 78-70 overtime loss to Mt. San Antonio last November in the Cypress Tournament.

And Powell fouled out with close to seven minutes left in regulation.

Powell scored 14 points in the first half and 23 in the second half.

She made 14 of 20 field goals and 9 of 10 free throws in breaking the Lisa Schumaker’s record of 34 points set last season.

“I really had no idea how many points I had in that game,” Powell said. “When they told me I said, ‘No way.’ But I’ve always liked to score. My goal has always been to score 20 points each game I play.”

Powell is averaging 22.7 points a game this season. She averaged 20 points a game as a junior at Woodbridge, but fell to 12 points per game her senior when the team had better scoring balance.

“She is one of the best pure shooters I have seen, boys or girls, in my 20 years of coaching,” said Larry Sunderman, OCC coach. “And she has a really good touch inside. But this team also does a really good job getting her in the ball, which helps also.”

Rio Hondo College won the state community college wrestling title last Saturday night at Santa Rosa Junior College. Rio Hondo accumulated 86 points. Lassen was second, with 85 points, Cypress was third with 79 and Golden West was fourth with 52 1/2 points.

Three Orange County wrestlers won individual weight titles. Paul Herrera of Golden West won his second consecutive title at 150 pounds.

Eddie Ruiz of Golden West won at 134 pounds and Frank Trujillo of Cypress won at 126 pounds.

Setter Barrie Dafforn and outside hitter Laura Phillips of Golden West were voted to the all-state women’s volleyball team by the state coaches last week.

Dafforn, who made the all-state team as an outside hitter last season, and Phillips were also first-team all-Southern California.

Outside hitter Kim Gray (Golden West), middle blocker Dionne Powers (Golden West) and outside hitter Jennifer Deiley (Orange Coast) made the all-Southern California second-team.

Soccer players Hector Tapia of Rancho Santiago and Bob Hesse of Orange Coast were voted the co-most valuable in the Orange Empire Conference this season.

Justo Frutos of Rancho Santiago, whose team won the conference, was voted coach of the year.

Other Orange County players on the first team are Rosalio Gomez, Richard Pilon and Kevin Takabayashi of Rancho Santiago, John Bovetas of Orange Coast and John Gilyard of Cypress.

Community College Notes

Saddleback (9-2) finished eighth and Orange Coast (8-2) 13th in the final J.C. Grid-Wire football poll. El Camino (11-0) finished first . . . Wide receiver Willie Taylor of Golden West and offensive lineman Todd Gold of Fullerton were selected J.C. Grid-Wire scholar athlete all-Americans . . . Sophomore cross-country runner Tracy Wright was voted the Orange Empire Conference women’s runner of the year by the conference coaches. Wright won the Southern California Regional race at Irvine Park Nov. 13 and was ninth in the state race to lead OCC to the state title Nov. 20. at Woodward Park in Fresno. OCC’s Debbie Lies, Delinda Patino, Deanna Feser, Loi Curl, Candice Hansen, Mindi Webb, and Michele Manlapeg all made the all-conference team.