COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Amos and Kordik Lead Rancho Santiago to a 76-68 Upset of Fullerton

For the first six weeks of the season, most of the local basketball news was being made by Fullerton College.

The Hornets were off to a 13-2 start and clearly appeared to be the best team in Orange County.

But Rancho Santiago earned some attention of its own Saturday night with a 76-68 victory over Fullerton in the title game of the Crown City Classic in Pasadena.

Sean Amos had 19 points and Matt Kordik added 16 as Rancho Santiago (11-3) outplayed Fullerton in all aspects of the game.

Amos, who had 73 points in three tournament games, was selected most valuable player. Kordik also made the all-tournament team.

“Any time you beat a team as good as Fullerton, you have to feel good,” Rancho Santiago Coach Dana Padgett said. “We played very unselfish basketball.”

Rancho Santiago led, 35-28, at halftime, but Fullerton rallied in the second half. Fullerton cut the lead to three, 52-49, on a basket by Eddie Cochran with 9:43 left, but got no closer.

Amos, a sophomore forward, made a three-point play 30 seconds later to put Rancho Santiago ahead, 55-49.

Nieto scored 11 points and Nick Holt had 10 for Rancho Santiago.

Sam Love scored 18 points for Fullerton (13-3) before fouling out with 2:36 left.

Cochran added 15 for Fullerton, which was without starting forward Tyrone Merriweather, sidelined because of a sore knee.

Kevin Carlson made the all-tournament team for Fullerton.

In men’s nonconference basketball:

Southwestern 78, Saddleback 77--Terrance Springer of Southwestern (11-2) converted two three-point plays after being fouled on short jumpers in the closing seconds.

Saddleback (7-5) closed the gap to one point after a three-point shot by Derrick Walsh with nine seconds left.

In the Cypress tournament:

Oxnard 77, Cypress 73--Chris Slaughter scored 34 points to lead Oxnard to a third-place finish.

Matt Kenney was the leading scorer for Cypress with 16 points.

In nonconference men’s basketball:

Irvine Valley 83, Grossmont 76--Rashad Wilson had seven three-pointers and 32 points to lead Irvine Valley (9-5).

In women’s basketball at the Coast Christmas Classic:

Fullerton 61, Los Angeles Valley 37--Minette Gomez made all six of her shots and scored 14 points to lead Fullerton (8-7).

Vanessa Trujillo had six steals and five assists for the Hornets in a consolation game.