Cypress Coach Closing In on State Record for Career Victories

In a men’s basketball season marked by milestone victories, Cypress Coach Don Johnson will soon reach the top.

Johnson, in his 26th season at Cypress, has a 562-235 record, two victories short of becoming the winningest community college men’s basketball coach in the state’s history. Don Reid won 563 games in 25 seasons at Merced. He retired from the men’s program in 1988 but is back coaching the Merced women’s team this season.

Johnson can tie the mark Wednesday when his Chargers start Orange Empire Conference play at Orange Coast at 7 p.m. Cypress plays at Fullerton Friday.

“Assuming we get the record,” Johnson said, “it won’t be mine. It belongs to all the great kids and the volunteers that have been part of the program. And of course, the assistant coaches.”

Earlier this season, Irvine Valley Coach Bill Mulligan won his 500th college game, and Fullerton’s Roger See and Saddleback’s Bill Brummel won their 200th games.

In Wednesday’s other conference openers: Fullerton is at Riverside at 7 p.m., Saddleback is at Golden West at 7 p.m., and Rancho Santiago plays Irvine Valley at Capistrano Valley High School at 8 p.m.

Here’s a look at each conference team:

Cypress (15-4): Robbie Shelton, a sophomore forward, has helped the Chargers get off to a stronger start than many expected. He is averaging 19 points and seven rebounds. Cypress is also strong at guard with sophomores Anthony Livingston (14 points) and Gary Gibbs (10 points).

Riverside (14-5): The Tigers, the most talented team in the conference, are also the title favorites. Lou Williams, a returning all-conference guard, is averaging 24.2 points, tops in the conference. Darryle Flicking, a freshman forward, is averaging 22 points.

Saddleback (12-5): The Gauchos, strong enough to beat any team in the conference, look to sophomore forward John Molle, a transfer from San Diego State. Molle, from Irvine High School, is averaging 17 points and freshman forward Antoine Jefferson is averaging 15.

Rancho Santiago (11-6): The Dons, who have won the conference title the last two seasons, have been up and down but Coach Dana Pagett’s teams seem to get better in January. Fred Amos, a sophomore forward, is averaging a conference-high 10 rebounds and sophomore forward Ruben Oronoz is averaging 16 points.

Fullerton (11-7): The Hornets are playing well, having won the Palomar tournament last week. Kevin Carlson, a freshman forward, leads in scoring with a 19-point average. He was the most valuable player at Palomar. Eddie Cochran, also a freshman forward, is averaging 16 points.

Irvine Valley (9-7): When Mulligan came out of retirement he said his team would play an up-tempo game but concentrate on defense as well. The Lasers are averaging 100 points, but opponents are averaging 97. Chris Kostoff, a freshman guard, is averaging 24 points and has made 80 of 191 three-pointers. Gabe Higa, a freshman forward, is averaging 21 points.

Golden West (7-10): Golden West has played better than its record. The Rustlers have lost six times by five points or fewer. Guard David Dunham (16.4) and forward Josh Lewis (16.1) are the leading scorers.

Orange Coast (3-11): Jeff Porter, a returning all-conference forward, is averaging 20 points for the Pirates under first-year Coach Tim O’Brien. Porter scored 30 and 32 points in his last two games, each a career high.

Women’s basketball: Golden West and Orange Coast appear to be the class of the Orange Empire Conference, which also starts play Wednesday.

Golden West (19-2) won the 16-team Fullerton tournament last week. The Rustlers are led in scoring by freshman guard Melanie Iwamasa (20 points). Cinnamon Basco, a sophomore forward, is averaging 14 and Erika Miller, a sophomore guard, 13. Frances Oda, a sophomore guard, is averaging 6.6 assists.

Orange Coast opened the season with 15 consecutive victories but has since lost two of three. Colleen Hatch, a sophomore forward, is averaging 16 points.

Riverside (14-6) is the third team expected to challenge for the title. Fullerton is 10-10, Cypress is 9-7, Saddleback is 4-7 and Rancho Santiago is 4-10.

In Wednesday’s 7 p.m. openers: Golden West is at Saddleback; Orange Coast is at Cypress, and Riverside is at Fullerton. Rancho Santiago has a bye.