COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Saddleback Loses to Pasadena in Title Game

Saddleback was able to hold Chris Jones in the first half, but he scored 21 points in the second to lead Pasadena to a 101-90 victory Saturday in the championship game of the Saddleback men’s basketball tournament.

Jones, a 6-foot-5 forward, was five of five on three pointers, all from the right corner, in the second half as Pasadena pulled ahead. Saddleback led, 45-44, at the half and the teams were within three points of each other for much of the second half.

Jones hit consecutive three pointers, then made a five-foot jumper to give Pasadena (5-3) a 87-80 lead with 4:46 left. Jones was zero for five shooting in the first half, but was seven of nine in the second half. He also led Pasadena with 11 rebounds.

Saddleback did manage a rally in the final two minutes.

Sophomore guard Sean Keyes made a three-pointer to cut the lead to, 91-83, then stole the inbounds pass and converted the layup to cut the deficit to 91-85 with 1:41 left. Lesean London, a sophomore guard, added a three-pointer for Saddleback with 1:30 left to cut the lead to, 93-88, but Pasadena made the both ends of four one-and-ones to pull away in the final minute and a half.

Keyes led Saddleback (1-3) with 23 points, Charles Lockhard had 19 and Terrell Malone 12.

In the College of the Desert Tournament:

Rancho Santiago 78, College of the Desert 74--Mike Hunter scored 22 points and Matt Lien 13 to lead Rancho Santiago (6-0) in the championship game.

In nonconference men’s basketball:

Golden West 90, Pomona Pitzer JV 72--Alex Kreps had 22 points and nine rebounds to lead host Golden West. Ric Van Scoyce, J.J. Jenkins and Jason Vaughan had 12 points each and Kevin Andersen had 11 rebounds for Golden West (5-1).

Orange Coast College 79, San Diego Mesa College 71 (OT)--Forward Scott DeStefano’s 22 points and eight rebounds led Orange Coast College at San Diego Mesa College. Center Alan Schlines added 17 points and 10 rebounds for Orange Coast (6-0).