Community College Basketball : OCC Holds the Lead When It Counts in 81-77 Victory

Orange Coast College blew one big lead and almost blew another, but still defeated San Diego City, 81-77, in the consolation championship game of the West Los Angeles Valley men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at Van Nuys.

Orange Coast led by as many as 17 points in the first half, but San Diego City was able to rally to tie the score, 37-37, at the half.

Orange Coast built another large lead in the second half, only to have San Diego come back again.

Free throws allowed OCC hang on. Orange Coast made 9 of 11 free throws in the final 1 minute 33 seconds to secure the victory, the 200th for Coach Tandy Gillis in his 13 years at the school. Orange Coast was 22 of 30 from the line for the game. San Diego hit 30 of 38 free throws.

OCC led by as many as 9 points 4 times in the second half. San Diego cut it to 3 points (62-59) on two free throws by Terry Hosley with 6:10 left.

Hosley then stole the inbounds pass but was fouled by guard Dareck Crane. It was Crane’s fifth foul, who left with a team-high 17 points at the time.

But instead of folding, OCC rallied. Derek Johnson made a 3-pointer to give OCC a 65-60 lead, Alan Schlines scored on a rebound basket and LaMont Speed made 2 free throws and OCC led, 70-60, with 3:51 left.

From there, OCC was able to hold its ground at the free-throw line.

Schlines, a 6-foot 6-inch freshman from Foothill High School, led Orange Coast with 19 points and 16 rebounds. Speed had 18 points, Johnson 16 and Chip Hanlon had 7, all from the line. Hanlon also had 9 rebounds for Orange Coast (12-3).

Hosley had 26 points and Darren Buchanan 11 for San Diego (5-6).

Crane scored 8, Johnson 8, including a pair of 3-pointers, and Schlines 4 as OCC opened a 24-7 lead in the first half.

But then San Diego started to double-team the ball outside the key and also doubled Schlines inside once the ball went to him.

Orange Coast didn’t adjust and failed to score for more than 5 minutes.

“I kept bringing people off the bench to try to find a shooter,” Gillis said. “But we couldn’t find one. We have 3 or 4 guys on this team who think they are shooters, but no one did a thing.”

Hosley made two free throws with 1:11 left in the half and San Diego led, 33-32. It was the first time then Knights had led since the first minute. San Diego also led, 37-35, with 10 seconds left in the half, but Paul Kos made a 19-footer as time ran out to tie it, 37-37.

In a men’s nonconference game:

Saddleback 76, Southwestern 72--Antone Curtis scored 18 points and Jeff Springfield 17 as the Gauchos (6-7) beat host Southwestern for the second consecutive night.

In women’s nonconference games:

Orange Coast 68, Chaffey 61--Kim Ellerman scored 20 points and Melayne Green 19 as OCC (6-9) lead all the way at Chaffey. Wendy Hobbs, who hit 3 3-pointers, led Chaffey (2-7) with 20 points.

Golden West 98, Grossmont 76--Deedee Stigar scored 24 points, including 6 3-point field goals, to lead Golden West (13-3) to its eighth consecutive victory at Grossmont.