The Latest Challenge for Orange Coast’s Hatch: Paying the Rent

Colleen Hatch likes to water ski and snow ski, but she hasn’t had much time to do either since classes started in August at Orange Coast.

She also likes to cook, but hasn’t had time to dish up an elaborate meal in a long while, either.

Such is life for Hatch, a standout forward on the Pirates’ basketball team. While many college athletes concentrate mainly on their classwork and sport, Hatch has an entirely different set of concerns, including paying rent and electric, cable and phone bills.

After graduating from Marina High in June, 1991, Hatch moved out of her family’s house. But it wasn’t because she and her mother, Judy, were having problems. Instead, it was because both agreed Colleen should start learning to be more independent.

Hatch, 19, loved the freedom at first, but has since learned the price. She is working two jobs, and her days start at 8 a.m. and end sometimes as late as 10 p.m. after games.

She works at a local sporting goods store and at the on-campus graphics center, totaling about 30 hours a week. Things are about to become less hectic because Hatch is quitting at the sporting goods store at the end of the month. Her mother is going to help out financially.

Hatch is also quick to compliment her roommate, Joanne Joyce, for added support.

“There is a lot of stress at times,” Hatch said. “It was kind of a big step (moving out) but I’m used to it . . . Now, I enjoy it a lot.”

Despite her other commitments, Hatch, who is 5 feet 11, has found time to excel on the basketball court for Orange Coast (20-3), which is 4-1 and in second place behind Golden West in the Orange Empire Conference.

She leads the Pirates in scoring (16-point average), rebounds (8.5) and shooting percentage (55%).

“She plays a position (in our offense) that is going to score,” OCC Coach Mike Thornton said. “She is the player I knew I wanted most out of high school. . . . She carries a heavy load but seems to handle it pretty well.”

Hatch came to OCC last season without sharing her coach’s expectations, but went on to average 16 points and nine rebounds and was an All-Orange Empire Conference selection. She then spent the summer working at a water-ski camp in Bakersfield and shooting around on her own.

When she returned this season, she found herself with expectations in basketball for the first time. She has been frustrated at times with her play, but is mainly interested in how well the team does.

Hatch would like to earn a scholarship to make her next two years of college a little easier than her first two. She has taken a recruiting trip to the University of Northern Colorado.

“A scholarship would be awesome,” she said. “But right now, the team goals are more important. We just want to do our best.”

The Orange Empire Conference basketball races will reach the halfway point on Wednesday with Rancho Santiago and Saddleback leading the men and Golden West leading the women.

Saddleback (17-6, 5-1 in conference) plays its last first-round game against Irvine Valley at Capistrano Valley High School. Rancho Santiago (16-7, 5-1) plays host to Fullerton (13-11, 2-4).

Riverside (18-7, 4-2) started as the conference favorite but has lost to Rancho Santiago and Saddleback. The Tigers close out the first round by playing host to Orange Coast (4-16, 1-5). Cypress (18-7, 3-3) is at Golden West (9-14, 2-4).

All games are at 7 p.m. except the Saddleback-Irvine Valley game, which starts at 8.

The Golden West women appear to be as strong as ever. The Rustlers (25-2, 5-0) have won 15 games in a row and end the first round by playing host to Cypress at 7 p.m.

Golden West holds a one-game lead over Orange Coast (20-3, 4-1) and a two-game lead over Riverside (17-8, 3-2). Saddleback (6-11, 3-3) won twice last week. Fullerton is 13-11 and 2-4; Cypress is 10-11 and 1-4, and Rancho Santiago is 4-15 and 0-4.

Robbie Shelton made four free throws Friday to set the Cypress career record at 250. Shelton, a 6-7 forward from Western High, started the game tied with Pat Barrett (1972-74) at 246.

Shelton made 111 of 155 free throws last season and has made 139 of 192 this season. He has a career percentage of 72% (250 of 347).

Shelton is averaging 20 points this season and is on pace to become only the third player in Cypress history to score 1,000 points in his career.