Rancho Santiago Wins in Overtime

Freshman forward Lohnnie Tape’s three-pointer with 14 seconds left in overtime lifted Rancho Santiago to a 96-95 victory over Rio Hondo in one semifinal of the Rancho Santiago Holiday men’s basketball tournament Saturday.

Tape’s shot came with one second on the shot clock and moved the Dons (10-4) into the title game against Orange Empire Conference-rival Saddleback at 7 tonight. This is the 13th time in the 20-year history of the tournament that the Dons have been in the title game. The Dons have won it four times including last year.

Tape’s dramatic shot also completed a rally that saw Rancho Santiago work its way back from being down by 10 points, 77-67, with 7 minutes 18 seconds left in regulation.

“We really hung together as a team,” Rancho Santiago Coach Dana Pagett said.

Rio Hondo (9-10) had a chance to win it after a timeout when guard Melvin Farmer drove the right side and tried a bank shot from about four feet that bounced off the front of the rim and into the hands of Rancho Santiago forward Brian Slusser.

“At least we pressured the ball without getting a foul and got the rebound,” Pagett said.

Tape finished with a game-high 27 points and teammate Vlad Nieto had 24, including six three-pointers, five of which came in the first half.

Vlad’s brother Andy had 20 points including six in overtime, all on free throws. He was nine of nine on free throws in the game.

Farmer finished with 21 points and Louis Talley had 24 points for Rio Hondo.

In the other semifinal:

Saddleback 78, Mt. San Antonio 69--Saddleback continued its string of recent success in the tournament.

The victory moves the Gauchos into the tournament’s title game for the third time in four years and the fourth time in six years.

Saddleback defeated Rancho Santiago for the tournament championship in 1994 and 1991. Rancho Santiago beat Saddleback in the 1986 championship game.

Scott Duffy led Saddleback with 22 points, including a basket on a short jumper with 35 seconds left that put the Gauchos up 74-69.

The basket was set up when Saddleback got a break. Guard Michael Riggins was pressured once getting the inbound pass and had the ball knocked away, the ball hit the side of the backboard and came back to Riggins who then started up court and later passed to Duffy.

Riggins (eight points) made two free throws with 15 seconds left to give Saddleback a 78-69 lead.

Sean Morris had 14 before fouling out with 2:04 left and Brian Scoggin had 12 points, including two free throws with 26 seconds left.