COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : No. 1 Rancho Santiago Proves Worthy of Its Lofty Ranking

Rancho Santiago College began the week as the top-ranked men’s basketball team in the state, but figured to face two strong challenges over the weekend.

The Dons withstood both and fortified their ranking with a 109-84 victory over Los Angeles City, the state’s No. 10 team, Saturday in the championship game of the Rancho Santiago Holiday Tournament.

Rancho Santiago (18-1) rolled past No. 13 Santa Monica, 103-84, in one semifinal Friday night. L.A. City (15-3) beat No. 2 Long Beach, 97-91, in the other semifinal.

Saturday, Rancho Santiago went on a 14-0 run to take a 14-2 lead that established the tone and left L.A. City stunned.

L.A. City recovered a bit and cut the lead to 16-8, but got no closer. Rancho Santiago led, 51-36, at the half and just kept rolling.

Every Rancho Santiago starter was in double figures as the starters combined for 89 points. Erik Martin, the tournament’s most valuable player, led the team with 22 points and Corie Blount added 21. Blount had 13 rebounds and Martin added 10.

Glenn Greene and Brett Pagett scored 17 each and LaVern Broadnax added 12. Greene and Blount also were picked to the all-tournament team.

The Dons shot 59.2% (42 for 71) in the game and tied a school record with 12 three-pointers in 20 tries.

In the consolation championship game:

Saddleback 74, Mt. San Antonio 64--Edmond Johnson made six free throws and Ray Ankton four in the final two minutes for Saddleback (9-7).

Mt. San Antonio had cut the lead to 62-61 with 3:46 left, but didn’t score again until there was 14 seconds left in the game. Ankton had 17 points, Matt Thompson 15 and Johnson 14 for the Gauchos.