Community College Men’s Basketball : Cypress, Rancho Santiago Meet Again

Each time Rancho Santiago and Cypress colleges have met in a men’s basketball game this season, something important has hung in the balance.

The first time it was first place in the Orange Empire Conference and Cypress won, 88-78. The second time it was for the conference championship and Cypress won, 74-72.

The value of the meetings continues to increase. The teams will meet tonight at 7:30 at Cypress in a Southern California Regional final, and the winner will gain a berth in the state tournament, which is March 10-12 at Santa Clara University.

“It’s hard to defeat the same team three times in the same season,” said Don Johnson, Cypress coach. “It becomes increasingly difficult when that team is as good as Rancho Santiago.”

Rancho Santiago (25-7) is playing well in the playoffs. The Dons beat San Bernardino Valley, 94-63, last Saturday in the first round and Los Angeles Harbor, 98-76, in the second round Wednesday.

“It’s nice that we are playing well,” said Dana Pagett, Rancho Santiago coach. “But when you are still playing at this time, it means the teams you are playing are also playing well. We’ve played Cypress twice, so we know they are a very good team.”

Cypress (29-5) defeated Chaffey, 84-73, in the second round Wednesday, after a first-round bye.

Cypress is led by guard Jim Sammon (12.7 points a game) and forwards Jeff Green (14.6 points and 7.8 rebounds) and Kris Brodowski (13.3 points and 7.1 rebounds).

Rancho Santiago is led by guard Kenny Ammann (20.7 points) and forward Alonzo Jamison (19.6 points and 8.7 rebounds). Ammann scored a career-high 38 in the victory over Los Angeles Harbor.

In other regional finals: Imperial Valley (26-7) is at Santa Monica (25-8) and Pasadena (18-13) is at Palomar (24-8).