Top Contenders Are Usual Suspects

After six weeks of nonconference play, it’s time for the Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball race to begin.

With conference games starting Wednesday, Riverside, Santa Ana and Saddleback are the popular choices to win the men’s title.

Fullerton is a slightly more daring selection, but one to really consider.

Here is a look at each team:

Cypress (7-10)--Expectations were high this season but the Chargers have yet to meet them. Sophomore guard Towan Oliver is the leading scorer with an average of 10.2 points and Donald DaFoe, among five players from Michigan on the team, is the top rebounder, averaging 5.9.

Fullerton (10-7)-The Hornets have played as tough a schedule as any team in Southern California. Fullerton began conference play 7-9 in 1997 and went 11-3 to finish third.

Sophomore Ron Strange, a 6-8 forward who is averaging 12 points and 7.3 rebounds, is the tallest starter. But the Hornets rely on speed. Freshman swingman Chris Smith, from La Quinta High, is averaging 15 points and sophomore forward Shelton Wise is averaging 13.7 points. Sophomore forward Todd Jones, a transfer from Golden West, adds grit.

Golden West (5-10)--Like Cypress, improvement was expected for the Rustlers, and early on it showed when they beat Compton, which is ranked fourth in the state.

But things haven’t gone well since and the Rustlers didn’t win a game in the Orange Coast or Pasadena tournaments.

Sophomore forward Jeff Jensen could be one of the best players in the conference but has been slowed by an ankle injury. Freshman guard Rodney Clarke, who is from Alabama, is averaging 13.3 points.

Irvine Valley (11-5)--Coach Jerry Hernandez is worried about a lack of speed because the top teams in the conference have strong transition attacks.

Sophomore guard Ryan Ellis is averaging 12 points and 5.7 rebounds. Sophomore forward Peter Bozek is averaging 6.6 rebounds and sophomore forward Mike Ahmad is averaging 6.2 rebounds.

Orange Coast (11-4)--Former assistant Mark Hill took over in late May when Tim O’Brien took the boys’ varsity job at Northwood High. Hill has guided OCC to the most surprising start of any conference team.

The Pirates have been strong finishers, winning four games in overtime. Sophomore guard David Castleton, who scored a county-best 41 points in a game earlier this week, is averaging 23.

Riverside (13-6)--The Tigers have won a conference title and shared three others with Saddleback since 1994 and are again in position to finish on top.

Sophomore forward Brian Carlson is averaging 23 points and sophomore guard Mike Lewis is averaging 16. Sophomore center Joseph N’Sima averages 10 rebounds.

Santa Ana (14-3)--The Dons have solid scoring inside with sophomore Greg Gray and freshman Zac Fray, and outside with sophomores Brian Chambers and Mark Wulfemeyer.

Freshman guard Herbert Gracia has started to adjust to the quicker competition and freshman forward Joe Nichols isn’t afraid to play hard inside, and is a good shooter.

Saddleback (12-5)--Coach Bill Brummel has been waiting for a player to emerge for his deep team and it looks like sophomore forward Andre Jackson has done so. Freshman Mike Donegan is solid up front and Donzell Hayes is back at point guard.

Semaj Johnson is the third returning starter for Saddleback, which won one of four tournament finals it reached.