COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL REGIONALS : Rancho Santiago Wins Behind Play of Centers

Rancho Santiago got 29 points and 21 rebounds out of the center position as the Dons defeated El Camino, 78-74, in a men’s regional basketball playoff game Wednesday in Santa Ana.

Fred Amos, a freshman center, came off the bench to get a team-high 18 points and 11 rebounds as the Dons (23-9) advanced to the third round 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Cerritos. Starter Rick Swanwick added 11 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out.

“They have done a good job all year,” Rancho Santiago Coach Dana Pagett said about Swanwick and Amos. “Fred gave us a good spark in the first half.”

But Pagett was hardly all smiles after the victory for a couple of reasons. First, the Dons, the two-time defending state champions, will have a difficult task in winning at Cerritos, the No. 3-seeded team in Southern California. Cerritos defeated Trade Tech, 70-69, Wednesday. The winner of the game advances to the state tournament March 12-14 in San Jose.

The task could be much more difficult depending on the condition of guard Beau Hossler’s right ankle. He is the team’s point guard.

Hossler had seven assists and six points as the Dons opened a 46-35 lead in the first half. But he went down with a twisted ankle with less than a minute to play and was unable to put pressure on his foot as he was helped off the court.

It’s too early to determine if he can play Saturday.

Rancho Santiago maintained an eight- to 12-point lead for most of the second half. El Camino finally got close in the final two minutes, primarily because the Dons missed free throws.

El Camino’s Troy Williams made a three-pointer with 10 seconds left to cut the lead to 77-74. Rancho Santiago’s Eric Dahl made one of two free throws with six seconds left for the final score.

Dahl missed two free throws and Glenn Greene one in the final 47 seconds but El Camino never had a shot to tie the game. Dahl made his first three shots but finished four of 12 from the field and had 11 points.

Michael Reynolds scored a game-high 20 points and had 12 rebounds for El Camino, which ends 12-14.

In other regional games:

Saddleback 93, MiraCosta 85--Jody Smith scored 31 points and Dee Boyer added 20 as Saddleback (18-12) won at MiraCosta.

The Gauchos will play at 7 p.m. Saturday at Ventura.

College of the Canyons 85, Cypress 76--Cypress blew a 16-point lead in the first half but led, 75-74, with two minutes to play before being outscored, 10-2, the rest of the way by host Canyons (26-6). Sam Sabbara had 15 and Anthony Livingston had 13 for Cypress, which finishes 21-11.