COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Bruce, Cypress Easily Handle Rancho Santiago

Alan Bruce of Cypress College made a lot of new friends Wednesday night as he helped the Chargers to a 75-60 victory over Rancho Santiago in an Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball game.

Bruce had six points, a team-high eight rebounds, four steals and two blocked shots. Cypress Coach Don Johnson called Bruce, a 6-foot-5 sophomore forward, the hero of the game.

“That’s quite a compliment coming from a man I respect so much,” Bruce said. “I don’t even know half of these people, but I’m happy they’re talking to me. This was my dream game.”

The contest was billed as a matchup of teams with nearly equal talent. Rancho Santiago was ranked second in the state and in Southern Califorina; Cypress was the fifth-ranked team in the state and third in Southern California.

The teams were tied for first place in the conference, but Cypress (20-3 overall, 6-0 in conference) moved a game ahead in the standings with the victory. Rancho Santiago fell to 22-2, 5-1.

Cypress led, 33-30, at the half, then outscored Rancho Santiago, 11-1, in the first eight minutes of the second half to take a 44-31 lead. The Dons got as close as five, 51-46, with 5:21 left, but Cypress dominated the rest of the game from the free throw line.

Cypress’ Mike Renaud was nine of 11 from the line in the second half, and six of six in the final 50 seconds. Cypress was 27-of-36 in the game. Rancho Santiago was 19-of-30.

Andre Lamoureux led Cypress with 15 points, scoring 10 of the points in a row in the first half. Vince Hizon had 12 points, Renuad had 11 and Brian Kenny added 10.

John Guerrero was the only Rancho Santiago player in double figures with 13. Gene Altamirano, who is shooting 57% on three-point attempts this season, made only two of seven three-point baskets and was held to nine points.

“They (Rancho Santiago) play hard,” Cypress Coach Don Johnson said. “But we hung in there. I really don’t know what else to say.”