COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Saddleback Holds Off Bakersfield

Saddleback scored only two points in the final six minutes but still beat Bakersfield, 75-56, in the opening round of the Rancho Santiago Holiday Classic Monday in Santa Ana.

The Gauchos led, 36-33, at the half and went on a 30-5 run in the first 10 minutes of the second half to open a 66-38 lead. Saddleback’s biggest lead came at 73-42 with about seven minutes left.

At that point Saddleback’s starters left the game. John Molle led Saddleback (10-4) with 18 points. Saddleback plays Long Beach at 6 tonight in one semifinal, and Rancho Santiago plays Los Angeles Harbor at 8 p.m. in the other.

In another tournament game:

Rancho Santiago 74, Mt. San Antonio 63--Fred Amos scored 18 points, including six in the final 45 seconds, for Rancho Santiago (10-5). J.J. Ballesteros added 15 for the Dons.

In the DeAnza women’s tournament:

Sacramento City 77, Orange Coast 72--OCC opened the season with 15 consecutive victories but lost for the second consecutive day. The Pirates (15-2) had lost to Lassen, 88-73, Sunday. Ricarda Kuypers scored 22 and Heather Brannan added 19 for OCC.

In the consolation bracket of the Fullerton women’s basketball tournament:

Antelope Valley 62, Cypress 41--Freshman forward Yolanda Hearvey, who graduated from Magnolia High, had 13 points in defeat for Cypress (9-7). Antelope Valley is 8-7.