Rare Challenge Awaits Golden West

The Golden West women’s basketball team has pretty much had its way in the Orange Empire Conference as well as the state the past couple of years.

The Rustlers are the two-time defending state and conference champions.

Things have continued in much the same direction this season for Golden West, which is ranked first in Southern California and fourth in the state.

The Rustlers are 20-4, 4-0 in conference. Golden West has won 28 consecutive conference games over the past three seasons.

But Golden West isn’t alone in dominating the conference this season.

The Rustlers are tied for the top spot with Saddleback (21-3, 4-0) and the teams meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Saddleback in the final game of the first round of conference play.

The Gauchos, under third-year Coach Jack Single, are ranked third in Southern California and seventh in the state.

Golden West is led by sophomore guard Jennifer Harney, who is averaging 18 points and eight rebounds per game. She made a 12-footer with three seconds left to give Golden West a 66-65 victory over Riverside Wednesday.

“Both teams will want to get out and run, I figure,” Golden West Coach Dick Stricklin said. “The personnel is about equal, so it could come down to who has the fewest turnovers.”

Golden West has also been getting strong play from sophomore center Jenny Sullivan, who is 6 feet 2. She’s averaging 16 points and 13 rebounds per game.

But Saddleback will counter with sophomore Erin Schimeneck, who is 6-0 and averaging 14 points and 12 rebounds per game.

Saddleback has three other starters averaging in double figures. Sophomore guard Stefanie Moorman is averaging 15, sophomore swing player Danielle Silva is at 14.8 and freshman guard Carrie Burt is at 10.

“This will probably be the best matchup in community college women’s basketball you will see this year,” Single said.

Until the teams meet Feb. 21 at Golden West.

Bombs Away: One of the main reasons the Rancho Santiago men’s basketball team is enjoying its view from atop the Orange Empire Conference standings is its outside shooting.

The Dons are by far the busiest team from outside, having taken 157 more three-point shots than any other conference team. Rancho Santiago has made 38% (171 of 450).

Sophomore Eric Dahl leads the team in this category, having made 54 of 135 (40%). Freshman Ruben Oronoz is 37 of 79 (47%), sophomore Glenn Greene is 34 of 92 (37%) and sophomore Daryl Cole is 24 of 55 (44%).

Rancho Santiago (17-7, 5-1) is idle Wednesday, but the Dons can hardly enjoy the break without thinking ahead. They play host to Riverside Saturday then travel to Cypress Feb. 5.

Riverside (17-7, 3-2) and Cypress (16-7, 3-2) are tied for second in the conference, 1 1/2 games behind Rancho Santiago, the two-time defending state champion.

“We’re halfway done but can’t get complacent,” Rancho Santiago Coach Dana Pagett said. “We start right back up again Saturday with Riverside and then Cypress. Both are coming on now. The only thing I know is that Wednesday while everyone else is knocking themselves out on the court, we’ll be up in the stands.”

Terry (ing) Them Up: Sophomore forward Bob Terry needs seven points tonight when the Hornets play at Riverside to become only the 10th player in Fullerton history to score 1,000 points in his career.

Terry, a 6-8 forward who is averaging 20 points, has scored 374 points this season. He had 620 points as a freshman last season.

Football signings: Three players from Orange Coast have signed to play at four-year colleges. Linebacker Kimo Leopola is going to St. Mary’s, offensive lineman Jason Butler will play at Sonoma State and wide receiver Scott Hamilton is going to Cal State Northridge.

Community College Notes

Cypress’ Sam Sabbara has moved into a fifth-place tie with Andy Olivares (1986) on the Cypress career three-point list. Sabbara, a sophomore from Western High School, has 32 this season and 56 in his career. The three-point rule was in effect only one year during Olivares’ Cypress career. . . . Rancho Santiago center Rick Swanwick, who suffered a twisted ankle and missed most of the second half against Fullerton Saturday, is expected to play Saturday when the Dons play host to Riverside.