OCC Makes Runs at Chaffey, Wins Coast Classic

Orange Coast needed one 14-0 run to get back in the game, then used another to help close out a 65-51 victory over Chaffey in the championship of the women’s Coast Christmas Classic Sunday at OCC.

The Pirates trailed at the half, 33-29, and the score wax tied, 41-41, with 12:15 left. OCC then went on a 14-0 run over about the next seven minutes and led, 55-41, with 5:25 left.

Jana Davis, a sophomore forward from Huntington Beach, had six points and Zsuzsi Burkhalter had four in the run. Davis, who finished with 14 points, was the tournament’s most valuable player.

Heather Brannan, who also made the all-tournament team, added 16 points for OCC (14-0).

Chaffey opened the game with an 11-2 run and extended the lead to 22-10 with about seven minutes left in the half. OCC came back with a 14-0 run to take a 24-22 lead with 3:25 left in the half.

“Chris (Stephens, the Chaffey coach), is a good friend of mine,” OCC Coach Mike Thornton said. “They know our team really well and they took us out of a lot of things we do. . . . At the half we stressed getting back to what we do well, pressure defense and running the offense.”

Colleen Hatch had 10 points for OCC. Margaret Leach led Chaffey with 16 points and Tena Meis added 14.