Carter Is One-Man Show for Saddleback in Victory

Anthony Carter fell one assist short of a triple-double and helped Saddleback to an 83-78 victory over host Rancho Santiago in an Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball game Friday.

Carter, a sophomore guard, finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, the most important of which came late in the game. He threw a cross-court pass to David Drakeford, who made a wide-open three-pointer to put the Gauchos ahead, 77-67, with 4 minutes 34 seconds left.

Rancho Santiago (13-6, 1-1) rallied to within four when Tremain Ross banked in a three-pointer with 36 seconds left to cut the lead to 81-78. But Drakeford made two free throws five seconds later for an 83-78 lead.

“It was a really big win for us,” Saddleback Coach Bill Brummel said. “It was crucial because it was in their gym.”

Saddleback (14-3, 2-0) led by as many as 14 in the first half but the Dons got within four, 43-39, at the break. Rancho Santiago’s Todd Wilson (15 points) came off the bench to lead the second-half charge for the Dons, who went ahead, 55-54, on his three-pointer with 11:52 left in the game. It turned out to be the last lead of the game for Rancho Santiago.

Roderick Beavers had 14 points and 12 rebounds for Saddleback and Chris Rose had 24 points and 10 rebounds for Rancho Santiago.

In other men’s games:

Riverside 90, Irvine Valley 88--Sean White made a three-pointer with 10 seconds remaining for visiting Riverside (19-3, 2-0). Irvine Valley’s Leon Green missed a desperation shot at the buzzer. J.C. Timmons scored 21 points for Irvine Valley (9-10, 0-2), which led by nine at halftime.

Orange Coast 83, Cypress 75--Duane Curtis scored 21 of his 22 points in the first half, as Orange Coast (10-9, 1-1) shot 69% from the field to take a 47-37 lead. Cypress (9-10, 1-1) pulled to within five, 78-73, with 1:01 remaining in the game, on a three-pointer by Gil Gonzales, but the Pirates held on, making five free throws in the final minute.

Matt Ambrose had 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for Orange Coast.

Golden West 82, Fullerton 76--Rod Scheuerman scored 30 points and had eight rebounds to lead Golden West (11-11, 1-1).

In Orange Empire Conference women’s basketball:

Fullerton 68, Golden West 64 (OT)--Minette Gomez and Lupie Janos made key free throws in overtime for host Fullerton (10-8, 2-0). Michelle deBruijn had 14 points, 12 rebounds and nine steals for the Hornets. Blythe Linsey had 15 points and 13 rebounds for Golden West (11-9, 1-1).

Orange Coast 52, Cypress 43--Tina Afan had 16 points for Orange Coast (16-4, 2-0). Holly Pawloski had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Cypress (5-12, 0-2).

Riverside 90, Irvine Valley 72--Alicia Rubio scored 35 points for Riverside. Jennifer Nakanishi scored 28 points for Irvine Valley (14-4, 0-2).

Saddleback 95, Rancho Santiago 45--Shanna Renken scored 23 points and Cha-Ron Walker had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Gauchos (15-0, 2-0). Cari Remmel had 19 points and 11 rebounds for Rancho Santiago (5-9, 0-2).