COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Golden West Cries Foul in 85-69 Loss

Golden West Coach Tom McCluskey suffered his first coaching ejection Saturday as the Rustlers lost to host Riverside, 85-69, in the title game of the Riverside holiday tournament.

Golden West made a strong showing early, but Riverside used its superior height and speed to pull away.

It was a difficult game for McCluskey to watch from the outset as Rustler forward Eric Kline was called for three fouls in the first 4 minutes 6 seconds. Kline’s ire over the goings-on showed up with 15:41 left in the half, when he was hit hard trying to get a defensive rebound. He protested the lack of a foul and was assessed a technical for his troubles.

McCluskey’s anger boiled over midway in the second half and he also received a technical for arguing a call. McCluskey was later ejected when he received his second technical while protesting another call with 4:17 left.

The Rustlers had scored six consecutive points to cut the Riverside lead to 66-59. On the inbound pass, two players touched shoulders and Golden West was called for a foul, sending Paul Culbertson to the line for two free throw attempts.

As McCluskey went to kick the ground, his slip-on shoe flew about 10 feet onto the court, causing the second technical. Culbertson made all four free throws and then Riverside’s Sean White drove the lane for a short jumper and Riverside led, 72-59, with 3:59 left.

“I totally apologize to my team,” McCluskey said. “I take full responsibility and it will never happen again.”

Under conference rules, McCluskey will have to sit out Golden West’s game on Monday against Los Angeles.

In the third-place game:

Imperial Valley 88, Irvine Valley 83--Irvine Valley (5-6) was within six points, 71-65, after Josh Porter made a three-pointer with 3:22 left. The Lasers then stole the ball but Porter missed a three-pointer off the front of the rim and Imperial Valley quickly built a 10-point lead.

Leon Green made two three-pointers in the final minute as Irvine Valley got as close as five, 80-75, with 33 seconds left. But Imperial Valley made eight free throws attempts in the final 32 seconds to stay ahead.

Imperial Valley made 19 of 22 free throws in the second half and 25 of 35 in the game. Quincey Gamble had 24 and Jesse Silva 22 for the Arabs.

In the LA Valley women’s basketball tournament:

Chaffey 70, Cypress 62--Janine Shaw had 25 points and Linda Rodriguez had 18 for Cypress (4-6) in the third-place game. Nicole Simmons and Sonya Buckner each scored 17 points for Chaffey.

Golden West 74, Moorpark 68--Blythe Linsey scored 23 points and Nancy Love had 22 to lead Golden West (4-6) in the consolation game.

In nonconference women’s basketball:

San Diego Mesa 78, Orange Coast 57--OCC started the second half on a 9-2 run to pull within six points, but San Diego Mesa’s Truc Huynh, Twia Evans and Natascha Stokely each made three-pointers to put the game out of reach. Jamie Shine had 15 points and eight rebounds for OCC (8-3).