COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Rancho Santiago Applies Pressure, Sets School Mark

Rancho Santiago College, better known for its offense, used constant defensive pressure to defeat Orange Coast, 67-50, in an Orange Empire Conference game Saturday at OCC.

The victory was the 19th consecutive for Rancho Santiago, a school record. The Dons won 18 in a row during the 1986-87 season.

Rancho Santiago (22-1, 4-0 in conference) is the top-ranked team in the state and came into Saturday’s game averaging 97 points.

Both teams were held to a season-low in points, and OCC shot only 38% (18 of 48) from the field. Orange Coast also committed 17 turnovers, and no Pirate scored more than eight points.

“We turned it over a lot,” OCC Coach Tandy Gillis said. “But it was because of their defense. They are so quick.”

Rancho Santiago was only slightly better from the field, shooting at 41% (26 of 64), but most of the Dons’ trouble came from three-point territory. Rancho Santiago was one of 15 from beyond the line.

“I’m not sure if it was good defense or poor shooting,” Rancho Santiago Coach Dana Pagett said. “But both teams did a good job on defense.”

Rancho Santiago forward Erik Martin was impressive again inside. He had a game-high 24 points on 10-for-15 shooting and made four of five free throws. Corie Blount, a sophomore center, had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Martin had nine rebounds.

Rancho Santiago played a sluggish first half as Orange Coast came as close as 24-21 with 2:11 left. But Martin had four points, including a five-foot baseline jumper with six seconds left, for a 31-23 halftime advantage.

As in earlier conference victories over Saddleback and Golden West, the Dons started the second half with a scoring blitz and coasted to victory.

Blount, LaVern Broadnax and Glenn Greene had baskets in the first minute and Rancho Santiago led, 37-23. The lead grew to as many as 23 points (64-41) when Blount made a free throw with 3:30 left.

Greene, who had 13 points, was the only other player in double figures for either team.

In other Orange Empire Conference games:

Cypress 89, Saddleback 76--Cypress shot an amazing 77% (39 of 51) from the field in its victory at home. Center Eric Pauley made 11 of 12 shots and finished with a game-high 22 points. Forward Brian Kenney was seven of eight for Cypress (15-8, 2-1) and finished with 16 points.

Flip Banks, making his second start of the season for the Chargers, added 12 points and Jim Waikle 10. Charles Lockard, who transferred from Saddleback to Cypress, scored only six points but had 10 assists.

Matt Thompson had 20 points for Saddleback (11-8, 1-2).

Riverside 88, Golden West 85--Golden West trailed, 86-85, and had the ball with 42 seconds remaining but failed to score. Golden West (10-12, 2-2) called a timeout with 24 seconds left, but Ric Van Scoyoc missed from 14 feet with 15 seconds left. Van Scoyoc got his rebound, but missed again. Riverside’s Eric Dahl and Fred Haygood each made one of two free throws in the final six seconds for host Riverside (1-2, 14-10).

Scott Campbell led Golden West with 27 points. He had scored only two points Wednesday in Golden West’s 88-72 loss to Rancho Santiago. Van Scoyoc added 14, including a three-pointer to cut the lead to 86-85 with 1:24 left.