COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Rancho Santiago Upset by Santa Monica

Rancho Santiago College lost to Santa Monica, 81-71, Friday in the championship game of the Rancho Santiago Holiday tournament, effectively ending the Dons’ stay as the top-ranked team in the state.

Rancho Santiago had started the season with 17 consecutive victories.

Santa Monica led, 61-58, with 7:02 left but Rancho Santiago didn’t score for the next 3 minutes 32 seconds. Santa Monica (16-3) was able to take a 69-58 lead. Mark Moton had six points in the 8-0 run.

Cornelius Banks led Santa Monica with 24 points and was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Moton added 21.

Gene Altamirano led Rancho Santiago with 19 points and was also picked to the all-tournament team. Matt Lien had 14 for the Dons.

In the consolation championship game:

Saddleback 67, L.A. Trade Tech 63--Greg Reynolds had 19 points and Sean Keyes 16 for Saddleback (7-9). Terrell Malone scored 14 and was picked to the all-tournament team.

In the College of the Desert tournament:

Golden West 103, College of the Desert 95--Keven Andersen scored 26 points, Rick Van Scoyce added 21 and Alex Kreps 18 to help the Rustlers reach the final. Ray Vasquez had 32 points for College of the Desert, including 8 of its 13 three-point baskets. Golden West (12-6) plays Antelope Valley in tonight’s final.

In the Santa Rosa tournament:

Merced 70, Cypress 66--Mike Renaud made a three-point shot with four seconds left to cut Merced’s lead to 68-66, but Greg Frazier of Merced (11-5) was fouled and made two free throws to clinch the championship semifinal. Cypress is 13-3.

In the Fullerton women’s tournament:

Golden West 68, College of the Sequoias 52--Forward Claudette Jackson scored 30 points and collected 11 rebounds to pace Golden West (19-0), which advances into the final today at 4 p.m.

Golden West will play Yakama Valley, a 84-53 winner over College of the Canyons also Friday.

In nonconference women’s games:

Orange Coast 88, San Diego Mesa 35--Erika Manning had 29 points, 12 rebounds and six steals to lead host Orange Coast (16-3). Kami Bigler had 20 points and nine assists and Heidi Hasemann had 11 points and nine rebounds for OCC.

Saddleback 91, East Los Angeles 27--Kristen Okura scored 28 points and Susan Hatchett had 15 for Saddleback (9-8) at home.