It’s Not Pretty, but Fullerton Wins

It wasn’t very surprising that Fullerton Coach Dieter Horton was upset with the way his team played Friday in a 74-65 victory over visiting Cypress in an Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball game.

Fullerton, which retained its one-game lead over second-place Irvine Valley, wasn’t very sharp. Neither team played very well for more than a few minutes.

“It was ugly,” Horton said. “I don’t know what it is, if it’s complacency or what. But it will be adjusted in practice next week, that’s for sure.”

Horton’s intense practices are nothing new around Fullerton. They are one of the reasons the team has gone from an 0-14 record in conference last year to being 8-0 so far. Eight victories also tie the mark for the most Fullerton has had in the Orange Empire Conference since joining in 1989.

“Coach Horton makes us work our butts off in practice,” forward Brian Montonati said.

Montonati, a freshman, scored a game-high 18 points before fouling out with 40 seconds left for the Hornets (15-9, 8-0).

Cypress (12-10, 4-4) got as close as five, 58-53, with 2 minutes 55 seconds left but Montonati got open under the basket and made a layup to give Fullerton a 60-53 lead with 2:33 to play.

Ty-Juan Berry hit a three-pointer with four seconds left in the first half to put Fullerton ahead at the break, 33-30. But it was his free-throw shooting in the second half that was another key for Fullerton. He made eight of 10, all in the final 6:07. Berry, who had made a layup with two seconds left as Fullerton beat Cypress, 71-70, earlier this season, had 16 points.

The Chargers were 15 of 30 in free throws, including 14 of 24 in the second half.