Community College Notebook : Experience Helps Make Fullerton Women No. 1

For the past couple of seasons, Fullerton College has been a step or so behind Golden West in the battle to claim the top community college women’s basketball program in Orange County.

In each of the past 2 years, Golden West won the South Coast Conference championship and was the top-ranked team in California before being knocked out of the state playoffs in the semifinals.

Fullerton finished second in the conference both seasons and last season lost in the state quarterfinals with an all-freshman squad.

But with five starters back this season, Fullerton has established itself as not only the top team in the county, but also in the state.

Fullerton is 20-1 overall and has won 11 in a row. The Hornets are 4-0 midway through the Orange Empire Conference season.

Fullerton and Golden West moved from the South Coast Conference to the Orange Empire Conference this season. Fullerton had won South Coast Conference titles 14 times, the Southern California championship 6 times and a state title in 1978 under Coach Colleen Riley, now in her 20th season.

Fullerton defeated Golden West, 92-75, Friday to drop the Rustlers to 3-1 in conference.

The Hornets are the top-ranked team in the state, with College of the Sequoias second. Fullerton and Sequoias have split two games this season, each winning its own tournament.

“A lot of people looked at us to be good because we returned all five starters,” Riley said. “And we should be. After all, they have played 57 games together (including 36 last season).”

Four of the Hornet starters are scoring in double figures this season, led by guard Lisa Crosskey’s 13.5 points per game. Crosskey also is a 54% shooter.

Forward Kelli Johnson is averaging 12.8 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds. Forwards Debbie Wagner and Viv Perez are averaging 10.2 points each. Point guard Steffi Strauss is averaging 9 points and 5.5 assists a game, and reserve guard Heidi Shikuma is averaging 10 points.

Fullerton is scoring at a 77 points-per-game average and allowing its opponents an average of 52 points.

“We’re not a very big team,” Riley said, “but we are quick and have matured to become very solid.”

Fullerton’s experience has helped the Hornets overcome a very spotty schedule, as both Saddleback and Cypress pulled out of the conference after the schedule was made up.

Fullerton, Golden West, Orange Coast, Rancho Santiago and Riverside are playing eight conference games with six byes over 8 weeks.

Paul Who? When OCC Coach Tandy Gillis inserted freshman guard Paul Kos into the game last Saturday against Cypress, he seemed like the logical player to foul. Kos was 6 of 10 from the free-throw line all season and had not taken a shot in a conference game.

But Kos went to the line six times in 1-and-1 situations and responded by making all 12 shots. He was also 3 of 3 from the field, including a 3-pointer, and finished with 19 points as the Pirates defeated Cypress, 79-70.

Watch the elbows. William Highler of Riverside suffered a broken nose in Riverside’s victory at Cypress last Wednesday, becoming the third player to suffer the same fate in Cypress’ gym this season.

Cypress’ Jay Barrington and Mike Varos have had their noses broken by teammates in practices this season.

Community College Notes

Three more members of the Fullerton football team have accepted scholarships to play next season. Quarterback Victor Williams and fullback Ray Pallares will play at Northeastern Oklahoma State and defensive end Monty Rediford will play at Fort Hays State in Kansas. . . . Injury Report: Saddleback forward Vincent Mason will play the rest of the season with a pad on his right wrist to protect the metacarpal bone he injured Jan. 14 in the Gauchos’ victory over Golden West. OCC forward Alan Schlines sprained his ankle last Saturday in the Pirates’ victory over Cypress and could miss Wednesday’s game at Riverside. . . . In the first 18 games of the men’s Orange Empire Conference basketball schedule, the visiting team has won 10 times.