Santa Ana Could Clinch Title Today

The Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball race could be decided today if Santa Ana maintains its recent form.

The Dons, thanks to a seven-game winning streak, can close out an unlikely championship run by beating host Fullerton at 7:30 tonight.

Fullerton and Irvine Valley were the conference favorites and Riverside and Saddleback were considered to have a chance.

Santa Ana (17-11, 9-3) was picked fifth after starting the season with four consecutive losses. The Dons still weren’t considered much of a threat after a 2-3 start in conference.

But things turned around with an 81-76 overtime victory against Fullerton on Jan 23. That was the first game in which guard Chris Mattice replaced Khary Walker, who has since left the team, in the starting lineup.

“I don’t think you could have predicted the streak,” Santa Ana Coach Dana Pagett said, “because the conference is so balanced.”

Lohnnie Tape leads the Dons in scoring (23 points per game) and rebounding (eight). Tape said one of the driving reasons behind the turnaround was the players’ desire to finish strong for Pagett, who is stepping down after this season.

Santa Ana’s inspired play has prompted Fullerton Coach Dieter Horton, in his second season, to joke about announcing he is stepping down in an effort to motivate his players.

Actually, Horton’s more immediate problem is having enough players on the front line. The Hornets (20-8, 8-4) are without forwards Matt Halverson (injured) and Edwin Charles, who was ejected for a flagrant foul in a victory over Saddleback Friday and under conference rules, must sit out a game.

This is the second consecutive season Fullerton has gone into the final week with a chance at the title, but without two starters. Horton kicked two starters off the team last season two days before the Hornets lost to eventual champion Irvine Valley in a first-place showdown.

Fullerton won’t be without weapons though. Sophomore guards Erick Ashe (18 points) and Ben Sanders (18.5) are two of the best players in Southern California.

Fullerton ends the season Friday at Orange Coast and Cypress is at Santa Ana the same day.