COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Saddleback Beats Rancho Santiago

Antoine Jefferson and Tes Whitlock dominated down the stretch, helping Saddleback to a 91-79 victory over Rancho Santiago in an Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday in Mission Viejo.

Each finished with 23 points for Saddleback (12-6, 2-1).

Sean Amos had 31 points, including 22 in the second half, for Rancho Santiago (14-6, 2-1).

Jefferson had 11 points and Whitlock eight in the final 8 minutes 15 seconds.

Despite the 12-point margin, Rancho Santiago was within four with 1:15 to play when Matt Kordik (22 points) made a three-pointer to cut the lead to 80-76.

After a timeout, Saddleback beat the press and Whitlock got a dunk and the Gauchos led, 82-76. After a missed shot by the Dons, Whitlock drove to the basket and was fouled. He made both free throws and Saddleback was up, 84-76, with 55 seconds left. He had also made two free throws with 1:32 left.

“I felt a little pressure,” Whitlock said about the late free throws. “But I knew the team needed them. I just went up and knocked them down.”

He made seven of eight free-throw attempts in the game.

Amos had a three-pointer to get the Dons within seven, 86-79, with 35 seconds left. But Jefferson added two free throws with 18 seconds left and a rebound basket as time ran out. Jefferson was 10 of 12 from the field.

“This was one we really wanted to play well in,” Saddleback Coach Bill Brummel said. “We think (Rancho Santiago) is a really good team.”

The Gauchos had a 48-38 halftime lead thanks in part to the strong play of guards Josh Borella and Derrick Walsh. Each had 12 points in the half. Borella ended with 18 points and Walsh 16.

In other men’s games:

Riverside 101, Irvine Valley 81--Darryle Flicking scored a game-high 36 for host Riverside (17-4, 3-0), the only undefeated team in conference. Rashad Wilson had 24 points and Arturo Clemente had 13 for Irvine Valley (14-7, 2-1).

Fullerton 85, Orange Coast 82--Sam Love scored 19 points and had 11 rebounds for Fullerton (16-6, 1-2). Damion Morbley scored 29 points and had 22 rebounds for Orange Coast (10-8, 1-2), and Derek Roche added 23 points, including five three-pointers.

Cypress 87, Golden West 85--Matt Kenney had 22 points and Fabian Luna, Jim Falletta and Adam Baker each had 16 for Cypress (10-12, 1-2). Golden West’s Matt Keim missed a three-point attempt as time ran out. Gerald Rhoden had 30 for Golden West (7-12, 0-3).

In Orange Empire Conference women’s basketball:

Golden West 84, Cypress 66--Golden West raced to a 23-8 lead and led, 40-30, at the half in a game that featured two of the top seven teams in the state. Deana Itow had 24--16 in the second half--for No. 2 Golden West (21-3, 3-0). Jennifer Johnson scored a season-high 20 points for No. 7 Cypress (17-5, 2-1).

Kristin Brun, a sophomore guard, had a season-high 10 rebounds for Golden West. Johnson had 13 rebounds for Cypress.

Orange Coast 64, Fullerton 54--America Robledo had 18 points for host Orange Coast (13-8, 1-1). Nikki Clark had 17 points for Fullerton (13-10, 1-1).

Saddleback 71, Rancho Santiago 42--Bonnie Trejo had 18 points and 16 rebounds and Amy Feniello added another 18 as Saddleback (6-10, 1-2) notched their first conference victory. Cathy Hang scored 13 points for Rancho Santiago (3-11, 0-3).