COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Cypress Gives Don Johnson 501st Victory

Don Johnson won his 501st game to become the winningest coach in California Community College men’s basketball history when Cypress College defeated Rio Hondo, 68-57, in a nonconference game Saturday at Rio Hondo.

Johnson is 501-209 in 24 years of coaching, including this season. He was tied with Gene Victor of Mt. San Antonio, who was 500-328 in 28 seasons. Victor’s last season was 1987.

Eric Pauley had 22 points, 13 rebounds and had five blocks and Gary Gibbs had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead Cypress in its opener.

In other nonconference men’s basketball:

Rancho Santiago 107, College of Canyons 81--Erik Martin scored 29 points to lead Rancho Santiago to an easy victory in its opener at College of the Canyons. Corrie Blount scored 22 points, Vern Broadnax 11, Glenn Greene 12, and Eric Kutas had 14 for Rancho Santiago College.

In nonconference women’s basketball:

Orange Coast 68, San Diego Mesa 57--Cynthia Kollar scored 20 points and had five rebounds to lead Orange Coast (1-0) at San Diego. Erika Manning scored 15 points and had 15 rebounds and Kami Bigler had 10 points for Orange Coast. Rachelle Johnson had 18 points for Mesa (0-1).