Hizon Voted Orange Empire MVP

Vince Hizon, who helped lead Cypress College to the Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball title, was named the conference’s most valuable player in a vote by the coaches.

Hizon, a 6-foot-2 sophomore swingman from Mater Dei High School, averaged a team-high 15.2 points a game for Cypress.

He also had 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists a game as well as shooting 56% from the field and 86% from the free-throw line.

Hizon was joined on the 11-man team by teammates Grayle Humphrey and Eric Pauley. Don Johnson of Cypress was named the coach of the year.

Also named to the team were Gene Altamirano, Matt Lien and Corie Blount of Rancho Santiago; Ric Van Scoyce and Alex Kreps of Golden West, Alan Schlines of Orange Coast, Rashone Lewis of Fullerton, and Dave Stienstra of Riverside.

Donna Gondringer of Golden West College was named the most valuable women’s player of the Orange Empire Conference in a vote of the coaches.

Gondringer, a 6-foot-1 sophomore forward, averaged 15.6 points and 7.7 rebounds a game in leading the Rustlers to the conference title.

Claudette Jackson and Bits Sirchia of Golden West also made the team. Golden West’s Dick Stricklin was the coach of the year.

Others named to the team were Michelle Hennessey, Erika Manning and Cindy Kollar of Orange Coast; Angie Nelsen, Candi Burnett of Fullerton, Shannon Garnos of Saddleback, Carolyn Burns of Rancho Santiago and Wendy Luebbers of Riverside.