Community College Basketball : Speed Scores 26 Points in Orange Coast Victory

LaMont Speed scored a career-high 26 points but Orange Coast College still needed a little help in the final seconds to preserve a 72-70 victory over Golden West in an Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Golden West.

Speed, a sophomore forward, was 11 of 13 from the field and made all 7 shots he took in the second half.

“He just had a career game,” OCC Coach Tandy Gillis said. “He reads the defense and just goes to the open area. He has a knack for getting open.”

The teams were tied 5 times in the final 3 minutes but Speed made an open 10-foot jumper to give OCC a 72-70 lead with 28 seconds left.

Golden West got 2 chances to tie but both failed. First, Golden West guard Elbert Davis was called for charging with 17 seconds left. OCC inbounded the ball to freshman forward Chip Hanlon, who was quickly fouled by Alex Kreps with 12 seconds left.

After a Golden West timeout, Hanlon missed the first free throw and Golden West’s Markus Muller-Stach got the rebound.

The Rustlers worked the ball down court and got the ball to forward Steve Moser, who ducked into the key but his layup attempt rolled off the rim and fell to the floor as time ran out.

“We had some good shots that just didn’t go in the hole,” Golden West Coach Jim Greenfield said. “If we make a layup, we can win the game.”

Golden West led, 39-36, at the half but OCC rallied and opened a 62-54 lead with 7:20 left in the game. From there, Golden West rallied and finally tied it, 64-64, on a layup by Kreps off a pass from Muller-Stach with 4:50 left.

Golden West missed a chance to go ahead a minute later when Kreps, a freshman center, missed a layup, got his own rebound, and missed again.

Kreps led Golden West with 18 points, Muller-Stach had 15 and Davis 12 for Golden West (15-6 overall and 0-2 in conference play). Dareck Crane had 14 and Alan Schlines 10 also for OCC (16-4, 1-0).

Rancho Santiago 67, Cypress 62--Chris Martin scored 23 points and Tony Smalley added 16 and 10 rebounds for visiting Rancho Santiago (11-7, 1-1).

Matt Lien added 13 for Rancho Santiago, which overcame a 32-28 Cypress lead at the half.

Vince Hizon scored 17 for Cypress (8-10, 1-1) and Ian Donnelly had 16.