Four Orange Empire Favorites Emerge as Conference Play Begins

In early November, there was no clear favorite for the Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball title. Now, almost two months and about 20 games later for each team, conference play is about to start and there’s still no obvious choice.

But Riverside, Cypress, Rancho Santiago and Saddleback have moved to the front of the field.

Here is a look at the top four as they get ready for the title run:

Riverside (14-7)--The Tigers have rebounded from early-season problems to win nine of their past 10. Sophomore forwards Geoff Gorham and Fred Haygood have keyed the run.

Gorham is averaging 22 points and has scored 20 or more in 16 of the team’s 21 games. Haygood is second in points at 17 and first in rebounds with 10 per game.

Forward Dan Lyton is averaging 17 points and guard Lou Williams (11) is also in double figures. Riverside opens conference play at 7 p.m. Wednesday against visiting Rancho Santiago.

Cypress (13-5)--The Chargers are coming off a victory in the consolation championship of the Arizona Mesa Rotary tournament. Balance is again the key for Cypress, which has five players averaging in double figures.

Sophomore forward David Boyle leads with a 14.5-point-per-game average, and freshman center Robbie Shelton is second at 13. Shelton is also tops in rebounds with seven. Sophomore guard Sam Sabbara is averaging 12 points and a team-high four assists. Sophomore forward Bill (Flip) Banks is averaging 11.5 points and freshman guard Anthony Livingston has a 10-point average.

Cypress plays host to Fullerton at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Rancho Santiago (12-6)--The Dons begin the defense of their title with a difficult assignment, trying to win at Riverside. Freshman forward Ruben Oronoz leads Rancho Santiago in scoring with a 14-point average.

Sophomore guard Eric Dahl is second at 13, with sophomore guard Glenn Greene (12) and sophomore center Rick Swanwick (12) also averaging in double figures.

Swanwick, a sophomore transfer from UC Irvine, leads the team with seven rebounds per game. The Riverside game will be especially emotional for Dahl, who played for the Tigers last season.

Saddleback (9-7)--The Gauchos start conference play having won six consecutive games. Sophomore guard Ray Ankton leads at 15 points per game, and sophomore center Dee Boyer is second at 13.

Boyer, who has already signed with UC Irvine, is tops in rebounds with eight per game.

Jody Smith and Josh Borella each are averaging 10 points per game. Borella is quickly making a name for himself at the free-throw line, where he has made 74 of 88 (84%) this season.

Saddleback plays at OCC at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Fullerton (8-7)--Fullerton opened the season with five victories, including wins in the championship games of the Mt. San Antonio tournament and its own tournament.

The Hornets have since struggled to a 3-7 mark, but did manage to win the East Los Angeles tournament. Sophomores Bob Terry and Garry Hunter, both forwards, are the only players scoring in double figures.

Terry is averaging 23 points and nine rebounds, and Hunter has 18 points and six rebounds. Fullerton has a tough assignment in the conference opener, playing at Cypress at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Orange Coast (8-9)--The Pirates have found scoring punch in freshman forward Jeff Porter, who is averaging 19.5 points and eight rebounds per game. Porter is shooting 59% from the field.

Sophomore Agustin Heredia, who has moved from point guard to off guard, is averaging 12 points and five assists. Sophomore Michael Wenzlaff has moved from power forward to shooting forward and is averaging 10 points per game. OCC plays host to Saddleback at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the conference opener.

Golden West (8-11)--Greg Evans, a sophomore transfer from Loyola Marymount, and Mark Johnson, a sophomore transfer from Fullerton College, have given Golden West a talented scoring duo.

Evans is averaging 18.8 points and Johnson is right behind him at 18.4. Johnson leads the team with nine rebounds per game.

Sophomore guard Paig Parish (15 points) and Bret Lundeen (12) are the other players in double figures. Lundeen is also averaging eight rebounds per game.

Women’s Basketball: Saddleback, under third-year Coach Jack Single, has emerged as the top team entering Orange Empire Conference play. The Gauchos are 17-2.

Sophomore guard/forward Danielle Silva is averaging 15.7 points and sophomore guard Stefanie Moorman is second at 15.4 points.

Golden West (16-4), the two-time defending state champion, is also off to a strong start. Orange Coast is 13-6, Riverside is 11-6, Fullerton is 7-8 and Cypress is 6-10.

Cypress is at Fullerton, and Orange Coast plays at Saddleback at 7 p.m. Wednesday.