COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Irvine Valley Plays Spoiler for Saddleback

Saddleback, which held a one-game lead with four left, lost its bid for even a share of the Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball title Friday when it was upset, 81-80, by Irvine Valley at Capistrano Valley High School.

Saddleback (21-8, 11-3 in conference) started the game tied with Riverside. But the Tigers beat Cypress, 79-70, to claim the title outright.

Irvine Valley, which had lost five in a row, got the winning basket with 13 seconds left when Eugene Patterson picked up a loose ball and made a 10-foot baseline jumper to put the Lasers up, 81-80.

Patterson, who seldom plays, was in the game because three Irvine Valley players had fouled out.

Saddleback moved the ball up court, and called a timeout with eight seconds left.

The Gauchos got the ball to Tes Whitlock in the corner, but his three-point attempt bounced away and time ran out.

Irvine Valley Coach Bill Mulligan, between shaking hands and being hugged by well-wishers, agreed that it was biggest victory in the two-year history of the program.

“It doesn’t do anything special for me,” Mulligan said about beating Saddleback and preventing the Gauchos from winning a second consecutive title. “I just wanted to beat somebody.”

Saddleback opened a 30-23 lead with about six minutes left in the first half but failed to score the rest of the half. Tom Airey (21 points, all on three-pointers) made on consecutive shots to start the Lasers’ comeback.

Irvine Valley (18-14, 6-8) led at half, 38-30. The Lasers finished the conference race tied for fifth with Cypress.

Saddleback turned to sophomores Antoine Jefferson (25 points) and Whitlock (30 points) in the second half to rally.

The Gauchos controlled the flow early in the second half and were up, 53-47, with about 10 minutes left. But then it was Irvine Valley’s turn to rally. Rashad Wilson, who was a backup defensive back for the Saddleback football team last fall, had 22 for Irvine Valley.

Saddleback was in trouble even before the start of the game, when starting guard Derrick Walsh walked in wearing street clothes. Walsh, who had scored a career-high 25 Wednesday, sat on the bench, but Coach Bill Brummel wouldn’t say why he didn’t play.

“I really have no comment,” Brummel said. “I hope to be able to say more Monday.”

In other Orange Empire Conference games:

Fullerton 99, Golden West 76--Kevin Carlson led the Hornets (25-10, 8-6) with 34 points and Eddie Cochran had 21 points and 11 rebounds. Fullerton and Rancho Santiago tied for third, but Fullerton will be seeded higher in the playoffs because the Hornets beat the Dons twice.

Chris Reiff had 23 points and Gerald Rhoden had 21 for Golden West (9-21, 2-12).

Rancho Santiago 88, Orange Coast 83--Sean Amos had 23 points and seven rebounds, Matt Kordik added 20, and Nathan Small had 19 points and seven rebounds to lead visiting Rancho Santiago (20-11, 8-6).

Todd Loewe scored 19 points, including four three-pointers, and Damion Morbley added 18 points and 12 rebounds for Orange Coast (13-16, 3-11).

In Orange Empire Conference women’s basketball:

Golden West 71, Fullerton 51--The Hornets threw a celebration to honor Colleen Riley’s last regular-season game as coach, but Golden West spoiled the party. Golden West (29-4, 11-1) clinched its fifth consecutive conference title earlier. Fullerton (19-14, 7-5) finished in a third-place tie.

Orange Coast 70, Rancho Santiago 56--Leann Karmeo led Orange Coast (19-12, 7-5) with 18 points and 17 rebounds. Rancho Santiago finished 3-20, 0-12.

Riverside 77, Cypress 63--Riverside dominated from the beginning with strong shooting from Audrey McMurry (22 points). Sara Works had 21 points for Cypress (22-9, 7-5), which lost the battle for second in the conference.