COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Antelope Valley Survives Rally by Cypress to Win Golden West Title

Just when it looked as if Cypress College had a chance to rally, Antelope Valley’s Dedean Thomas took over and scored four key points to help the Marauders to an 89-82 victory Saturday in the championship of the Golden West men’s basketball tournament.

Antelope Valley had led by as many as 12 in the second half but the Chargers started to rally. Cypress had cut the lead to four points at 79-75 on a three-point basket by Mike Renaud with 2:20 left to play.

Antelope Valley then took the ball but couldn’t work clear for a shot. Thomas rebounded a missed shot, resetting the 45-second clock with two minutes left to play. Thomas got the inbound pass and started to dribble along the three-point line. He was near the left baseline when he saw an opening in the Cypress defense and moved toward the basket, making a layup to give Antelope Valley an 81-75 lead with 1:48 left.

He then rebounded a Cypress miss and was fouled with 1:17 left. He made both free throws to give Antelope Valley a 83-75 lead.

Thomas finished with 17 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. He was voted the most valuable player of the tournament. Paul Ernst, a sophomore guard, led Antelope Valley with 20 points and was voted to the all-tournament team.

Antelope Valley improves to 10-2; Cypress is 9-1. The Chargers were led by forwards Andre Lamoureux (21 points) and Eric Pauley (16).

In the third-place game:

Golden West 98, Cerritos 90--J.J. Jenkins scored 24 points and Craig Rice came off the bench to score 20 for Golden West (8-4).

Rice hit three consecutive three-pointers midway in the second half. Rice also hit a pair of one-and-one opportunities to help keep Golden West ahead.

Forward Kevin Anderson scored 16 points in the first half and had 20 in the game for Golden West. Nadersen got his fourth foul with 9:49 left but played the rest of the way. He had to stay in because the Rustlers were without Alex Kreps.

Kreps hurt his ankle in Thursday’s victory over Citrus. He should be ready play when Golden West plays in the Riverside tournament Wednesday.

In a nonconference women’s basketball game:

Golden West College 85, Moorpark 54--All five starters for visiting Golden West (12-0) scored in double figures in the nonconference game.Golden West guard Bits Sirchia scored a game-high 16 points, including four three-pointers. Moorpark is 9-2.