Conference Play Begins With a Full House

Defending champion Irvine Valley, Fullerton and Riverside are the favorites when the first round of the Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball race begins Wednesday with games at 5:30 p.m. The men play at 7:30 p.m. in the second round.

The playoffs start Feb. 27 and the state tournament is March 12-14 at UC Irvine.

Here’s a look at the men’s teams (with current records in parentheses):

Cypress (9-8)--Coach Paul Bottiaux hopes the start of conference play is enough incentive to motivate his team, which is on a two-game losing streak. Sophomore forward A.D. Lamoureux, who averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds last season, and sophomore guard Frankie Floyd (12 points) are two of most talented players in the conference. Lamoureux missed the last two games because of a sore ankle.

Fullerton (12-4)--Coach Dieter Horton, in his second year, is a stern disciplinarian and already has removed sophomore Ernie Burries for conduct detrimental to the team.

The backcourt is solid with returners Erick Ashe (17 points) and Anthony Steen, but Nevada Las Vegas transfer Ben Sanders (19 points) also is impressive.

Golden West (5-12)--The Rustlers, who don’t return a player from last season’s team, rely on quickness with Todd Jones (15 points) and Charles Johnson, both 6 feet 5, as the tallest on the team.

On the plus side, Golden West won eight games last season and already has five victories this season. Mark Perry, a guard, is averaging 16.5 points.

Irvine Valley (12-5)--The Lasers’ strengths are balance and experience.

Six players who contributed a great deal to last season’s conference championship return, including center Donald Williams, forward Matt Houser (14 points) and guards Robert Griffin (11 points) and Damion Raibon. Williams, who has been slowed by a sore ankle, committed to Fairleigh Dickinson.

Orange Coast (11-5)--Shaun Jackson, a sophomore swing player from Mater Dei High and Wyoming, is averaging 24 points and seven rebounds. But he is being called on to do a great deal because point guard Carlos Reyes is sitting out the season because of a knee injury.

Chris Candlish is averaging 11 points, eight rebounds and also prevented OCC from playing a game about two weeks ago when he shattered a backboard with a dunk during warmups at Barstow.

Riverside (14-6)--The Tigers have the conference’s top two scorers in sophomores Ben Hooks (25 points) and Danny Sullivan (23).

Saddleback (8-7)--The Gauchos return one player--guard Scott Strelecki--and have struggled at times playing as a unit.

Vernon Jackson, a freshman guard from Atlanta, is averaging 18 points and seven rebounds and sophomore forward Marshall Freeman is averaging 15 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Kenzie Weir averages 14 points and four assists.

Santa Ana (8-8)--Sophomore forward Lohnnie Tape is one of the most talented offensive players in Southern California. He averaged 22 points last season and is at the same mark this season. Mark Saukkola, a prolific three-point shooter, is back at guard and averaging 15. The Dons are 8-4 since an 0-4 start.