COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : No. 1 Rancho Santiago Survives in Double Overtime

Corie Blount scored 23 points, including four in the second overtime, to lead unbeaten and top-ranked Rancho Santiago College to a 101-93 victory over Pasadena Friday in the championship game of the Pasadena basketball tournament.

The game was tied, 78-78, at the end of regulation. Rancho Santiago’s Matt Lien made two free throws with 12 seconds left in the first overtime to tie it, 88-88, forcing the second overtime. Blount had four of his game-high 15 rebounds in the second overtime.

Lien had 18 points and Gene Altamirano had 18 and eight rebounds for Rancho Santiago (14-0). The Dons are the No. 1-ranked community college team in the state. Pasadena is 9-7.

In the Riverside Tournament:

Golden West 80, Citrus 68--Center Alex Kreps scored 18 points and guard Ric Van Scoyce added 16 to lead Golden West.

J.J. Jenkins had 12, and Craig Rice had 10 for Golden West. Kevin Andersen scored eight points but had a team-high nine rebounds for Golden West, which led at the half, 36-32. Kevin Cable and Paris Canty had 18 each for Citrus.

The Rustlers (10-5) play Chaffey today at 3 p.m. for fifth place.

In another Riverside tournament game:

Fullerton 64, Santa Barbara 54--Mike Goff and Donell Henderson scored 11 points and had eight rebounds each for Fullerton (8-5). The Hornets play College of the Desert for the consolation championship today at 1 p.m. Mike Keith had 10 for Fullerton, which led at the half, 36-23. Santa Barbara shot 35% (23 of 66) from the field and made only 2 of 17 three-point tries.

In nonconference men’s basketball:

MiraCosta 79, Saddleback 70--Robert Morthel scored 14 points to lead visiting MiraCosta (7-5). Saddleback led, 57-53, but MiraCosta went on a 17-4 lead in the next minutes. Saddleback rallied to cut the lead to 70-69 with 2:11 left on a pair of free throws by Greg Reynolds. MiraCosta then went on a 9-1 run.

Charles Lockard led Saddleback with 22 points. Terrell Malone had 16 points, all in the second half. He scored 15 of his 16 in the first five minutes of the second half. Saddleback is 3-8.

In the Cuesta College women’s tournament:

Orange Coast 70, Cabrillo College 35--Guard Cindy Kollar scored 21 points and had 13 rebounds to pace Orange Coast in the semifinals. Erika Manning added 10 points and 12 rebounds for Orange Coast and teammate Michelle Hennessey scored 12 points at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. Orange Coast (14-2) will play Golden West College tonight at 6.

Golden West 88, Alan Hancock 84 (OT)--Bits Sirchia hit a three-pointer to force the game into overtime and had two free throws in the final minute to help Golden West (14-0) remain undefeated. Sirchia made a three-pointer with three seconds left to tie the score, 76-76.

Golden West had led by 18 points with 10 minutes left but Hancock made eight three-pointers to come back and take the lead.

Donna Gondringer had 22 points and 20 rebounds and Claudette Jackson had 23 points and 15 rebounds for Golden West.