COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASKETBALL : Cypress’ Johnson Seeking Record on Familiar Court

Cypress men’s basketball Coach Don Johnson returns tonight to the gym in which he played community college basketball with a chance to become the winningest coach in the state’s history.

Johnson’s Cypress team travels to Fullerton for a 7 p.m. Orange Empire Conference game. Johnson, in his 26th season, has a 563-235 record, as many victories as former Merced Coach Don Reid, who was 563-206 in 25 seasons.

Johnson tied the mark when the Chargers beat Orange Coast, 77-70, in overtime Wednesday in the first game of the Orange Empire Conference season.

Johnson graduated from El Monte High School in 1948, then played two seasons at Fullerton College and then two at UCLA, from which he graduated in 1952. He was an All-American as a senior at UCLA, where he played for John Wooden.

Cypress is 16-4 and ranked seventh in the state. Fullerton (11-8, 0-1) lost to Riverside, 99-77, Wednesday.

In other Friday games at 7 p.m.: Golden West takes on Irvine Valley at Laguna Hills High School, Riverside visits Rancho Santiago and Orange Coast is at Saddleback.

In women’s 7 p.m. Orange Empire Conference games: Fullerton is at Cypress, Rancho Santiago at Riverside and Saddleback at Orange Coast.