Golden West Playing Beyond Expectations

The Golden West College women’s basketball team figured to be “pretty good” this season, according to co-coaches Dick and Dave Stricklin.

The Rustlers won the state title last season but returned only two players this year. Starting guard Bits Sirchia is back, as is Dawn Haag, who also figures to start in the backcourt.

Things have gone much better than planned at Golden West, however, as the Rustlers have won 12 in a row, are 20-1 overall and 2-0 in the Orange Empire Conference and are the top-ranked team in the state.

Golden West has played its best basketball in its past four games, starting with an 80-70 double-overtime victory Dec. 29 against Los Angeles Valley in the semifinals of the Fullerton Tournament. Golden West went on to defeat College of the Sequoias, 71-68, for the tournament championship.

Last week, the Rustlers opened the tough Orange Empire Conference with a pair of impressive victories. They ran past Orange Coast, 104-71, Thursday. The next night, they defeated fifth-ranked Fullerton, 74-63.

In the first half against L.A. Valley, Golden West’s Sirchia left the game after twisting her right ankle. Haag, the Rustlers’ only other experienced backcourt player, fouled out midway through the first overtime.

Golden West scored in the final seconds of the first overtime to tie, then went on a 10-0 run in the second overtime to defeat the then top-ranked team in the state.

In the championship game against College of the Sequoias the next day, the Rustlers were without Sirchia, who was too sore to play.

Nevertheless, Golden West came away with a victory over a team that had defeated the Rustlers, 77-66, earlier this season.

“All along we have been saying that we are not a one-person team,” Dave Stricklin said at the time. “And that game proved that. We have some other pretty good players.”

In addition to Sirchia, who leads the team with an average of 17.5 points, and Haag (10.9 points), Golden West is being helped by some talented freshmen:

--Guard Jennifer Harney (Esperanza High School) is second on the team at 15.3 points.

--Forward Tracy Wolfe (Ocean View High School) is third at 11.9 points.

--Center Jenny Sullivan (Ocean View) is averaging 11.1 points and a team-best 11 rebounds.

--Forward Allison Bickel (Brea-Olinda High School) is averaging 9.9 points and 6.3 rebounds.

Sophomore Adrienne Hughes, a transfer from New Mexico State, is averaging 9.3 points and six rebounds.

Golden West and Orange Coast are the next teams in line that will try to stop the Rancho Santiago express this week.

Golden West (10-10, 2-0 in conference) travels to Rancho Santiago for a 7:30 game Wednesday night.

A victory by Rancho Santiago (20-1, 2-0) would tie the school’s record for consecutive victories at 18. The Dons travel to Orange Coast for a 7:30 game Saturday night.

The Rancho Santiago record of 18, set by the 1986-87 team, was ended by an 87-75 loss to Cypress. The Dons have a way to go before reaching the Orange County record of 34, held by Cypress and Saddleback. Neither of those teams, however, won a state title the year it set or tied the mark.

In the 1978-79 season, Cypress lost its opener, then won 34 in a row before losing to Saddleback, 56-53, in a state championship semifinal.

The next year, Saddleback won 34 consecutive games before losing to Cypress, 74-64, in a semifinal of the state tournament.

Community College Notes

Rancho Santiago’s George Tuioti has signed a letter of intent to attend New Mexico State beginning in the fall. Tuioti, from Santa Ana High School and San Diego State, had 10 catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns last fall. He will have two years of eligibility with the Aggies.