COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Roche Wins It for Orange Coast With Three-Pointer at Buzzer

Derek Roche, who two seconds earlier had missed a pair of free-throw attempts, made an off-balance three-pointer at the buzzer to give Orange Coast a 78-77 victory over Cypress in Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball game Friday at OCC.

Cypress trailed, 49-37, at the half but rallied and went ahead, 77-75, when Fabian Luna made two free throws with 1 minute 14 seconds left.

Cypress’ Jim Falletta had a chance to extend the Chargers’ lead, but missed two free throws with 28 seconds left.

OCC worked the ball for a final shot but missed, and during the ensuing scramble, Falletta was called for an intentional foul for pulling the jersey of Roche, who didn’t have the ball.

After he missed the free throws, Roche took the inbounds pass above the key, about 24 feet from the basket, and made the twisting shot.

“I thought those (free throws) were good,” he said. “I kind of felt like I let the team down. It was a good chance to redeem myself with that shot.”

Roche had 17 points for OCC (11-6, 1-1). Adam Baker had 15 for Cypress (9-12, 0-2).