Conference Basketball Races Heating Up

It’s only the second week of play in the Orange Empire Conference basketball races, way too early to start calling games “vital” but not too soon to label a few “important.”

On the women’s side, Golden West (20-2, 1-0 in conference) plays host to district rival Orange Coast (18-2, 2-0) at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Golden West is ranked second in the state and OCC is fourth. Golden West, which has a 10-game winning streak, is averaging 82 points. Melanie Iwamasa, a freshman guard, is averaging 20 points.

Orange Coast won its first 15 games, the best start in the program’s history. The Pirates are lead by freshman point guard Ricarda Kuypers, who is averaging 14 points and six assists, and sophomore forward Colleen Hatch (15 points per game).

Riverside (16-6) is also 2-0 in conference and the Tigers play at Golden West Jan. 22 and at OCC Jan. 27 in the final game of the first round.

On the men’s side, Cypress (17-4) and Rancho Santiago (13-6), which have the best rivalry in Orange County in recent years, meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Cypress. Both are 2-0 in conference.

But the men’s race is far from a two- or three-team race, as Friday’s results clearly indicated. The four games were decided by a total of nine points.

Cypress beat Fullerton by the most lopsided score, 75-71. Rancho Santiago stopped Riverside, 107-105, and Irvine Valley beat Golden West, 106-104. Orange Coast edged Saddleback, 66-65.

Career opportunities: Fullerton hopes to hire its football coach by the middle of March, said Sue Beers, the college’s Dean of Physical Education.

The school started accepting applications in mid-December and will continue until March 4. A search committee then will screen the applications, interview and recommend a selection.

Among those expected to apply is Gene Murphy, who retired at Cal State Fullerton after last season.

Fullerton College went though this process last spring, but didn’t make a hire because “there were not enough minority applications.”

Marv Sampson and Glen Thomas, both long-time members of the staff, became interim co-coaches, replacing Hal Sherbeck. Sherbeck had 241 victories in 31 seasons before retiring.

Say anything: The recent rains have interrupted many things around Southern California, including construction of the gym at Irvine Valley College.

The project is supposed to be completed in time for next season, but weather-related delays could change that. Still, Irvine Valley Athletic Director Cely Mora has her sense of humor about the frustrating situation.

“If this (rain) keeps up, we’re going to look into putting a tarp over the sky.”

Don Johnson, the Cypress men’s basketball coach, has strained his voice for the second consecutive season.

“I had this problem last year but it went away once the season ended. Now it’s back. If I could not yell during games, that’s so crucial, but just not very probable.”

No kidding.

Back to school: Five members of the Orange Coast football team have agreed to play at four-year colleges, including co-most valuable players Eric Washington and Dwight Chornomud.

Washington, who rushed for 1,194 yards last season, will attend South Dakota. Washington finished his two seasons at OCC with 1,773 yards, second-best in the Pirates’ history.

Chornomud, who was in on 155 tackles in 11 games, is going to San Diego State. Dan Petrone, who along with Chornomud formed one of the best linebacking combinations in Southern California, is going to Columbia. He was a J.C. Grid-Wire scholar athlete.

Keith Burke, a defensive back, is going to Montana.

Victor Davis, also a defensive back, is attending the University of Nebraska at Kearney.