COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Rancho Santiago Beats Long Beach to Claim Title

Corie Blount scored 20 points and Erik Martin added 18 to lead Rancho Santiago College to a 108-79 victory over Long Beach in the championship game of the College of the Desert men’s basketball tournament Saturday in Palm Desert.

Martin, the tournament’s most valuable player, also had seven rebounds for the Dons, the defending state champions.

Blount and Brett Pagett, who scored 16, were also all-tournament selections for Rancho Santiago (5-1). Long Beach had opened with eight consecutive victories.

In nonconference men’s basketball:

Saddleback 100, Pasadena 98--Greg Reynolds scored 13 of his 23 points and visiting Saddleback shot 65% in the second half as the Gauchos (3-2) rallied and then held off Pasadena. Pasadena (4-3) led, 82-81, with 5:17 left, but Saddleback went on a 10-4 run over the next two minutes to lead, 91-86.

Pasadena’s David Phillips had a chance to send the game to overtime when he was fouled attempting a three-point shot with six seconds left, but he made only one of three free throws.

San Diego Mesa 78, Orange Coast 72 (OT)--The Pirates led by 14 at halftime but faded as San Diego made a three-pointer with 30 seconds remaining to tie the score. Michael Wentzaff scored 16 points for Orange Coast (4-2).

In the Ventura men’s basketball tournament:

Los Angeles City 76, Cypress 75--Eric Pauley had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Cypress (2-4) in the consolation semifinals. LACC is 5-1.

In nonconference women’s basketball:

East Los Angeles 2, Orange Coast 1--Adolfo Carranza scored both goals as unbeaten East Los Angeles (22-0) advanced to next weekend’s state final four in Hayward.

Kevin Villar scored for the Pirates (14-6-3), the defending state champions.

Moorpark 2, Irvine Valley 1--Billy Kranz scored two goals as host Moorpark (17-0) ended Irvine Valley’s season. Mike Dinsmore gave Irvine Valley (18-2-4) a 1-0 lead with two minutes remaining in the first half, but Kranz scored a minute later to tie the score.