COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Rancho Santiago Stops Cypress, 99-92

Erik Martin of Rancho Santiago College ended the game much like he had started it--with a dunk that nearly shook the basket to its foundation.

But when things calmed, Rancho Santiago had earned an intense 99-92 victory over host Cypress in the Orange Empire Conference opener for both teams in front of about 650.

It was the 16th consecutive victory for the Dons (19-1, 0-1 in conference), the state’s top-ranked team.

Martin, a 6-foot-6 forward, finished with a game-high 32 points, and forward Corie Blount added 28 as Rancho Santiago’s size overpowered Cypress (13-8, 0-1), the defending conference champion.

Cypress tried to counter up front with 6-10 forward Eric Pauley, who had 31 points, the second highest total he has scored in two years (he scored 33 this season against Snow, Utah). Cypress also started seven-foot Jim Waikle, who scored eight points.

Waikle, who was coming off the bench earlier this season, has started the past three games.

Rancho Santiago led by six to 10 points for most of the game, but couldn’t pull away.

The Chargers got as close as 85-81 with 3 minutes 48 seconds left after Pauley completed a three-point play.

But Blount came back with a layup off a pass from LaVern Broadnax, and was fouled. He made the free throw and the Dons’ lead grew to 88-81 with 3:37 left.

In the final three minutes, Cypress turned its offense to the outside in hopes of three-pointers. Charles Lockard made a three-pointer with 20 seconds left to cut the lead to 96-92, but the Chargers then had to foul. Eric Kutus made one of two free throws and Rancho Santiago led, 97-92. Cypress then lost the ball with six seconds left and Martin ended it when he picked up the loose ball and dunked it.

“We were pushed hard,” Rancho Santiago Coach Dana Pagett said. “But the guys hung together and that was the important thing.”

Broadnax’s scoring was a result of Cypress’ defensive pressure, which pressured inside in an attempt to stop Blount and Martin.

“They were sagging off me,” Broadnax said. “And Coach (Pagett) has the confidence in me to shoot, so I did.”

Brett Pagett scored 10 for Rancho Santiago, which plays host to Saddleback at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Lockard had 21 and Brian Kenney 19 for Cypress, which travels to Riverside Saturday.