COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Rancho Santiago Hangs On to Win

Rancho Santiago welcomed Irvine Valley to the Orange Empire Conference by defeating the Lasers, 86-82, Wednesday night at Capistrano Valley High School.

Rancho Santiago, the two-time defending conference champion, led the entire way. Irvine Valley did have several chances to at least tie the score in the closing minutes, but it missed three consecutive three-pointers with less than a minute left.

Rancho Santiago went ahead, 82-78, when J.J. Ballesteros scored on a back-door lay-in off a pass from Jason Janeski with one minute 15 seconds left.

Steve Ransom made one of two free throws to pull Irvine Valley within three at 82-79, then after a Rancho Santiago turnover, Irvine Valley went deep in an attempt to tie with less than 40 seconds left.

But Chris Kostoff, Dan Bathey and Brian Linsenmayer missed from three-point range.

Joe Foss got the rebound off Linsenmayer’s miss and was fouled with 29 seconds left. He made one of two free throws and Rancho Santiago led, 83-79.

Kostoff then made a three-pointer from about 27 feet with 22 seconds left to make it, 83-82.

Rancho Santiago’s Beau Hossler was fouled and made one of two free throws with 19 seconds left and the Dons (12-6, 1-0) led, 84-83.

Irvine Valley’s final chance came when Kostoff missed a running seven-footer with 12 seconds left that would have tied the score.

“We didn’t shoot well (38%),” Irvine Valley Coach Bill Mulligan said. “But we played hard.”

Rancho Santiago’s pressure defense and the absence of Gabe Higa bothered Irvine Valley.

Higa, a sophomore forward who is averaging 21 points a game, has pneumonia and is expected to miss about two weeks.

Ruben Oronoz had a season-high 27 points for Rancho Santiago and Fred Amos added 16 and 12 rebounds. Janeski had 16 points and 13 rebounds for Rancho Santiago, which led at the half, 38-31.

Ransom had 19, Kostoff 18 and Linsenmayer 17 for Irvine Valley (9-8, 0-1). Kostoff, who was averaging 24, made only one of seven three-pointers in the first half. He finished five of 22 from the field and four of 15 three-pointers.

“Jason (Janeski) did an excellent job tonight,” Rancho Santiago Coach Dana Pagett said.

In other Orange Empire Conference men’s games:

Saddleback 86, Golden West 60--Trailing by seven points at the half, Saddleback (13-5, 1-0) scored 57 points in the second half to rally past Golden West (7-11, 0-1). John Molle scored 22 points and Antone Jefferson had 16 for Saddleback. Josh Lewis scored 14 for Golden West.

Riverside 99, Fullerton 74--Darryle Flicking scored a game-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to pace Riverside (15-5, 1-0). Edward Cochran scored 23 points for Fullerton (11-8, 0-1).