COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Saddleback Finally Runs to Victory

Frustrated by his team’s inability to run its set offense, Saddleback Coach Bill Brummel called it off late in the game Wednesday night.

Instead, he told his players to just open it up. That adjustment and a few clutch free throws were enough for the Gauchos to beat Rancho Santiago, 63-59, in an Orange Empire Conference men’s game in Mission Viejo.

Saddleback opened the second half with eight consecutive points but went flat for about five minutes afterward, and the Dons took a 50-40 lead with 12 minutes 28 seconds left.

Brummel had tried different combination, but with little success. So he called timeout and told his team scrap the set-up game.

“I told them to just come down and just shoot,” Brummel said. “And that’s how we won. It loosened some things up, and got us going.”

Saddleback went on a 12-4 run and trailed, 54-52, after Roy Ankton made a pair of free throws with 5:03 left.

Saddleback finally took the lead, 56-55, when Jody Smith made a three-pointer after getting open in the corner when Rancho Santiago couldn’t catch up with a cross-court pass thrown by Ankton with 2:11 left.

Ankton made one of two free throws with 1:21 left, and Josh Borella added a pair of free throws with 1:07 left and Saddleback led, 59-56. Rancho Santiago’s Daryl Cole made one of two free throws with 50 seconds left to cut the lead to 59-57.

Saddleback’s Dee Boyer made one of two free throws with 29 and 11 seconds left to put Saddleback up, 61-57. Boyer was the wise man to foul for the Dons. He came in making 41% of his free-throw attempts. He was six of 12 in the game.

Rancho Santiago’s Glenn Greene was fouled before the ball was inbounded and made two free throws with 10 seconds left to pull the Dons within two points, 61-59. Ankton was then fouled on the inbounds pass and made two free throws for the final margin.

Ankton led Saddleback (11-8, 2-1 in conference) with 19 points. Smith had 16.

The game featured a match-up of Boyer and Rancho Santiago’s Rick Swanwick, the two biggest centers in the conference. Boyer finished with nine rebounds and eight points, but Swanwick had only four points, all in the first half, and was never really in the flow of the game.

He was kept on the bench because of the fine play of reserve Fred Amos, who had 15 points as the only Rancho Santiago player in double figures.

Rancho Santiago guard Eric Dahl had his worst shooting game of the season, missing all 11 shots he tried, including nine three-point tries. The Dons were three of 21 on three-point attempts.

In other Orange Empire Conference men’s games:

Golden West 85, Fullerton 77--Golden West (11-11, 2-0) went on a 10-0 run late in the game after the teams were tied, 61-61. Mark Johnson scored 19 of his game-high 23 in the second half for Golden West, the only undefeated team in the conference. Johnson also had 11 rebounds.

Greg Evans scored 18, Paig Parish scored 16 and Bret Lundeen 15 for Golden West. Bob Terry scored 21 points and had 10 rebounds before fouling out for Fullerton (9-9, 1-2).

Cypress 69, Riverside 63--Cypress’ Sam Sabbara made a three-pointer to give Cypress a 64-60 lead with 2:37 left and Bill Banks made a pair of free throws with 1:42 left to put the Chargers up, 66-60. Riverside (14-9, 0-2) got no closer than three points the rest of the way.

Robbie Shelton scored 14 points and had 10 rebounds for Cypress (14-7, 1-2). Sabbara finished with 13 and Anthony Livingston added 12 and Brett Evans 10. Evans was eight of eight on free-throw attempts.

Geoff Gorham scored 29 for Riverside, including 15 of 17 on free-throw attempts.

In an Orange Empire Conference women’s game:

Golden West 82, Fullerton 55--Host Golden West (18-4, 2-0) started the game on a 16-0 run and was never challenged. The Rustlers led, 42-18, at the half. Jenny Sullivan had 19 and Jennifer Harney had 16 for Golden West. Holly Keeton had 25 for Fullerton (8-10, 1-2).