OCC’s Spratt Beginning to Respond to His Critic

Brian Spratt of Orange Coast College didn’t have to look far to find a critic at the start of the season.

In the preview sent out by the college, Coach Tandy Gillis said Spratt had improved, but also said the 6-foot-6 forward hadn’t worked very hard last season and also has a tendency to slide by on occasion.

Gillis went on to place much of the burden for the Pirates’ success this season on Spratt, saying that if he tried to slide by again, OCC would be in big trouble along the front line.

During the first 13 games it appeared Gillis’ words had little effect. Spratt wasn’t doing much better as a starter than he did last season, when he came off the bench in a limited role.

“Early in the season I was lackadaisical,” Spratt said. “At that time our guards were doing well, so I wasn’t needed that much. But lately, I’ve started to really pick it up. . . . I like it better when the coaches are hard on me. I get upset with myself and play better then.”

Spratt is averaging 12 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, but those numbers don’t show the surge he has had in his past six games.

In that time, Spratt has averaged 15.5 points and 11.2 rebounds.

“I thought that was the spot (power forward) we would have to worry about,” Gillis said. “But Brian is doing it. He is really playing well.”

Spratt was slowed by the flu last week and missed OCC’s game Wednesday with Fullerton. He came back to play against Rancho Santiago, holding 6-11 center Corie Blount to 13 points, his third lowest output of the season.

Spratt came to Orange Coast from Corona del Mar High School, where he was an all-Sea View League selection, averaging 12 points and seven rebounds.

Last season, OCC had three sophomores starting on its front line, so Spratt sat much of the time. He averaged only five points and three rebounds.

“I didn’t figure it would be all that much different from high school,” Spratt said about playing on the community college level. “But it was a real slap in the face. Then the conference was even another step up.

“This year, I got a little stronger, even though it may not look like it. Now, I’m starting to play a little harder and maybe someone (a four-year college) will notice.”

Eric Pauley, Cypress’ 6-foot-10 forward, is known as a high-percentage shooter, but in the past three games, he’s performing better than anyone ever expect.

Pauley has made 86% (30 of 35) of his field goals in three Orange Empire Conference games. He made 11 of 12 shots against Saddleback, seven of nine against Riverside and 12 of 14 against Rancho Santiago.

Pauley has made 67% (186 of 278) of his shots this season and is a career 62% shooter at Cypress, which places him third on the Chargers’ all-time list. Ray Beer (1977-78) tops the list at 67% (213 of 319). Dave Baker (1978-79) is second at 65% (214 of 327).

Rancho Santiago’s Erik Martin, who is the most prolific dunker in recent memory, is right behind Pauley. Martin, a 6-foot-6 forward, has made 66% (211 of 322) of his shots.

Community College Notes

Spain’s national baseball team will play Sunday at Rancho Santiago College. The Spanish team, on tour of Southern California, will play the Santa Ana Cardinals, a team that includes several members of the Rancho Santiago baseball team, in a game that begins at noon. Admission is free. . . . Estrus Crayton, the Rancho Santiago running back who was a two-time J.C. Grid-Wire All-American, has selected the five colleges with which he is considering signing. He has already taken trips to California and USC, and has planned visits to Washington, UCLA and Arizona State.