COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Amos Scores 26 as Rancho Santiago Rolls by Shoreline

Sean Amos scored 26 points to help Rancho Santiago to a 90-80 victory over Shoreline (Wash.) in the first round of the Rancho Santiago Holiday tournament Tuesday night in Santa Ana.

It was the fifth consecutive victory and the eighth in the last nine games for Rancho Santiago (12-3). The Dons led, 48-30, at the half, keyed by Amos’ 15 points. Amos, a sophomore forward, made 11 of 15 shots from the field.

The Dons’ lead stayed between 15 and 20 points most of the second half until Shoreline (2-9) closed in the final minutes.

The Dolphins pulled to within six (86-80) with 22 seconds left, but Rancho Santiago’s Nathan Small (15 points) made two free throws and added a lay-in to close out the scoring.

Nick Holt and Matt Kordik had 16 points each for Rancho Santiago, which plays Long Beach in one semifinal today at 8 p.m.

In another Rancho Santiago tournament game:

Saddleback 78, Compton 68--Tes Whitlock scored 18 points and had four assists, Antoine Jefferson had 16 points, all in the second half, and Derrick Walsh added 15 points for Saddleback (8-5). The Gauchos play Mt. San Antonio in a semifinal game at 6 p.m.