COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL REGIONAL : Saddleback Falls Short in Loss To Trade Tech

John Molle was flat on his back on the gym floor, his hands over his eyes, not willing to look.

His teammates were spread around the gym, all with looks of disbelief amid Los Angeles Trade Tech players celebrating a 59-58 upset victory over Saddleback in a Southern California playoff game Saturday at Saddleback.

Los Angeles Trade Tech (25-8) advances to the State Tournament, which starts Thursday at the University of San Francisco. Saddleback, the Orange Empire Conference champion, finishes at 26-8.

Molle finished with a game-high 32 points but his final three-point attempt hit the front of the rim, rolled around, then out with two seconds. Had the shot fallen, it would have tied the score, 59-59.

Saddleback’s Sean Warren rebounded Molle’s miss and tipped it back in as time ran out for Saddleback’s final points.

That Saddleback had a chance to tie it in the final seconds was somewhat impressive considering how poorly the Gauchos played at the outset.

Los Angeles Trade Tech used its speed to open up a 20-8 lead with 7 minutes 25 seconds left.

“They were the quickest team we played all season,” Saddleback Coach Bill Brummel said. “They had a great athletic ability and took advantage of it. We didn’t play very well until toward the end of the game.”

Molle, the only Gaucho not bothered by Trade Tech’s defense, helped Saddleback get its offense going.

He finished the first half with 13 points but Saddleback trailed, 30-26.

Saddleback trimmed Trade Tech’s advantage to two, 30-28, early in the second half but Trade Tech pulled out right back out to a six-point lead.

Saddleback’s final charge started with 1:35 left when Molle made a three-pointer, from 24 feet, to cut the lead to 52-48.

The teams traded basket to make it 54-50, then Trade Tech got single free throws from Terry Green and Eric Fuller to go up, 56-50.

Saddleback got a three-pointer from Molle with 27 seconds left to cut the lead to 56-53.

Fuller made one of two free throws with 33 seconds left to lead, 57-53. Saddleback came back down and Antoine Jefferson made a three-pointer with 14 seconds, making it 57-56.

Saddleback committed a foul almost immediately and Trade Tech’s L.C. Johnson made two free throws with 10 seconds left for a 59-56 lead.

Molle was the only Saddleback player in double figures. Jefferson added eight and Jamie Todd and Derrick Walsh had five each.

Ryan Mack had 26 for Trade Tech, which had little trouble beating Saddleback’s zone press in the second half.

Saddleback had used that defense effectively in its 80-61 victory over Rio Hondo in the second round Wednesday.