Orange Coast Women Are Surprising Everyone but Coach

Orange Coast College’s early-season success wasn’t expected by many, but at least one person isn’t surprised--first-year women’s basketball Coach Mike Thornton.

Last season, the Pirates struggled to an 8-19 record and were 0-8 in the Orange Empire Conference.

Even with Thornton taking over as coach after a proven high school coaching career, instant success wasn’t expected. After all, he was fielding a team mainly of freshmen.

But OCC (14-3) has nearly doubled last season’s victory total.

“A lot of people are surprised,” Thornton said. “But I felt that if things came together we would be pretty good. The only thing I wasn’t sure about was the caliber of the competition because I was new to this level.”

The rebuilding started from the top when Thornton replaced head coach Larelle Hendon, who was on a one-year contract that wasn’t renewed. Thornton had coached at Marina for nine seasons where he compiled a 147-96 record and made the playoffs five times.

OCC starts four freshmen and one sophomore, point guard Michelle Hennessey. Hennessey, a graduate of Edison High School, played at the University of Utah two seasons ago. She sat out last season.

Hennessey leads the team with 6.5 assists a game, and averages 7.9 points.

“She’s played well this season,” Thornton said. “She’s the reason the team is doing so well. She is one of the best point guards I’ve seen anywhere in the state.”

OCC’s front line is led by freshmen Kami Bigler (Fountain Valley), Cindy Kollar (La Quinta) and Erika Manning (Cypress).

Bigler averages 12.4 points, Kollar averages 11.5 and Manning 10.2.

OCC figures to be a top contender for the Orange Empire Conference title this season along with Golden West (15-0).

The teams played Saturday for the first time in the title game of the Cuesta tournament. Golden West won, 67-53. OCC led, 34-31, at halftime, dropped to a 53-53 tie with five minutes left and was shut out the rest of the way. It was the first time Golden West had trailed at the half this season.

“I guess it was good we played them already,” Thornton said. “But it could work both ways. It was good for us to gain some confidence against them, but if they took us lightly then they will be ready for us next time as well. It’s one of those things that could work both ways. We’ll have to wait to the end of the season to find out.”

Top-ranked team: Rancho Santiago’s season-opening win streak and No. 1 ranking in the state almost came tumbling down Friday in the championship game of the Pasadena tournament.

The Dons (14-0) defeated Pasadena, 101-93, in a double-overtime game that lasted almost 2 1/2 hours.

Pasadena’s Derek Brown made a 15-foot shot with 12 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 78-78 and send the game into overtime.

Matt Lien of Rancho Santiago made a pair of free throws with eight seconds left to tie it, 88-88, and force a second overtime.

Corie Blount had four points and four rebounds for Rancho Santiago.

Community College Notes

John Burns was voted the offensive player of the year and Robby Smith the defensive player of the year for Saddleback’s football team. . . . OCC wide receiver Mark Craig was picked as the team’s most valuable player.