COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW : Question Marks Abound for Orange Empire Men

The unknown has returned to Orange Empire Conference basketball this season after a year of the obvious.

Even before the season started last year, Rancho Santiago was expected to defend its state title. And the Dons did just that, behind the play of Southern California player of the year Corie Blount and all-state selection Erik Martin.

But Blount and Martin are now at the University of Cincinnati.

Cypress also had a sure thing in forward Eric Pauley, who was also an all-state selection. His solid play helped the Chargers to the semifinals of the state tournament.

But Pauley is now a starter at Kansas.

So it’s time for a new set of players and, perhaps, teams to step forward for the 1991-92 season. Here’s a closer look at the Orange Empire Conference:

CYPRESS

1990-91 Record: 26-11, 9-3 in conference

Conference finish: Second

Cypress returns three players: Sam Sabbara (6 feet 1), who averaged eight points, four rebounds and four assists; Flip Banks (6-1), and guard Gary Gibbs.

The Chargers gained some experience and height by way of transfers. Sophomore David Boyle (6-5 forward) came over from Holy Cross, Steve McCaughey (6-11 forward) transferred when U.S. International ended its program, and Tim Tillman (6-6 forward) arrived from Fullerton College.

Guards Tom Barraza from Western High and Anthony Livingston from Long Beach Jordan are expected to contribute much in their first year.

Cypress Coach Don Johnson starts his 25th season with a record of 526-220 and is the winningest active coach in the state.

FULLERTON

1990-91 Record: 16-16, 4-8

Conference finish: Fifth

Fullerton returns plenty of offense in forwards Bob Terry (6-8) and Gary Hunter (6-4). Terry averaged 19.4 points and Hunter 19.7. Both are solid three-point shooters and move well inside. They were all-conference selections and the team’s co-most valuable players.

“Any time you have one high scorer with all-conference credentials returning, it is a plus,” said Coach Roger See, who is 177-132 in his 11th season. “But we have two players with those accolades coming back, which is nice to build a team around.”

Forward Rod Summers and guard Ray Villegas return and should play considerably bigger roles. Guard Mike Pettengill is a transfer from Biola, where he was selected freshman of the year.

GOLDEN WEST

1990-91 Record: 11-20, 3-9

Conference finish: Sixth

Golden West plans its usual up-tempo style with sophomore guard Paig Parish (nine points, four assists) leading the way.

Parish will be joined by Greg Evans, an Ocean View High graduate and sophomore transfer from Loyola Marymount. Reserve guard Eric Thomas is the only other returning player for Coach Jim Greenfield, who is 188-202 in his 13th season.

Scott Campbell (18 points and five rebounds), who had been counted on heavily at the swing position, is sitting out the seasonbecause of an irregular heart beat.

Bret Lundeen, a 6-7 forward from Capistrano Valley who has changed his last name from McCorkle, will be among the top freshmen. Mark Johnson, a 6-6 forward who played at Fullerton College in 1989-90, will also be used up front.

ORANGE COAST

1990-91 Record: 11-18, 2-10

Conference finish: Seventh

Height at Orange Coast usually means 6-2 forwards and a 6-5 center, but not this season for Coach Tandy Gillis, who is 233-209 in his 16th season.

Michael Wenzlaff (6-5) will move from power forward to small forward to make room for freshman forward/center Adam Hess (7-0) and freshman forward Mark Moneypenny (6-10).

OCC will rely on sophomores Wenzlaff (nine points, five rebounds) and guard Agustin Heredia (13 points, five assists) for leadership. Heredia played point guard last season but is expected to move to shooting guard to make room for Jason Quinn. Quinn, who helped Mater Dei to a state title in 1990, played at Southern California College last season.

RANCHO SANTIAGO

1990-91 Record: 35-2, 11-1

Conference finish: First

Guard Glenn Greene (10 points) is the only returning starter, but reserve forwards Daryl Cole (6-6) and Elton Moore (6-2) are back after a great deal of playing time last season. Cole (seven points) is a threat from three-point territory.

Sophomore Rick Swanwick, a 6-10 forward transfer from UC Irvine, has been slowed by a foot injury.

The backcourt got a boost in experience with the transfer of Eric Dahl, who played for Riverside last season.

Freshman Ruben Oronoz, a 6-6 forward from Whittier Christian High, should start for the Dons.

“I’m excited about this year’s team,” said Coach Dana Pagett, who is 200-94 in his 10th season.

RIVERSIDE

1990-91 Record: 18-16, 5-7

Conference finish: Fourth

Riverside returns forwards Fred Haygood (6-6) and Geoff Gorham (6-8), who were the Tigers’ leading scorers last season.

But Haygood (18 points, nine rebounds) hurt his knee and could miss the first month of the season. Gorham (12 points) missed the final five games of the season with a foot injury, and Riverside lost all five.

Riverside expects a great deal from forward Daniel Lyton (6-7), who comes to the Tigers from the University of Detroit, where he was a redshirt last season. He had signed with Missouri before that.

Marcus Bell, a transfer from Cal State Fullerton, heads up a long list of players vying at guard under Coach Bob Schermerhorn, who is 35-33 in his third season.

SADDLEBACK

1990-91 Record: 18-12, 8-4

Conference finish: Third

Optimism is high partly due to sophomore center Dee Boyer, who improved greatly from start to finish last season. Boyer (11 points, seven rebounds, three blocks) has already made an oral commitment to UC Irvine.

“He’s one of the most dominating players in the state defensively,” Coach Bill Brummel said of Boyer. “(He) has become an improved threat offensively, too.”

Brummel is 173-124 in his 11th season.

Also returning are forwards Pat Brown (6-4) and Kenny Caesar (6-3) and guard Ray Ankton. Brown averaged 10 points and five rebounds last season.

Among freshmen expected to make an impact are guard Josh Borella (Laguna Beach) and forward Pat LaMott (Laguna Hills).