Golden West Still Setting Pace

This was supposed to be the season that the impressive run of the Golden West women’s basketball team was going to slow down.

The Rustlers, with no full-time starter returning, came into the season hoping just to have a shot at Orange Empire Conference title.

But once again things have fallen into place for Golden West, and the Rustlers are well on their way to their sixth conference title in seven years.

The Rustlers also are looking to reach the final eight of the State tournament for the seventh consecutive year.

Golden West (28-2) is 8-0 in the Orange Empire Conference, where the Rustlers are in first place by 1 1/2 games with three to play.

Golden West also has beaten second-place Orange Coast twice, defeating the Pirates, 68-60, Friday to take command of the race.

Orange Coast (23-4, 7-2) held a nine-point halftime lead in the first meeting between the teams, but faltered and lost, 85-75, Jan. 13.

Golden West is led on offense by freshman guard Melanie Iwamasa and sophomore forward Cinnamon Basco. Iwamasa is averaging 20 points and 6.5 rebounds.

Basco is averaging 15 points and 12.6 rebounds and it’s her play that has really helped Golden West establish itself as one of the best teams in the state. The Rustlers figured to be strong in the backcourt, but their front line was shaky.

“She works as hard as anybody we have had,” co-coach Dave Stricklin said of Basco. “She lives in the weight room and on the court.”

Golden West has two other starters averaging double-figures--Erika Miller (11.8) and Frances Oda (11.4). Both are sophomore guards.

Men’s basketball: Saddleback (21-6, 9-1) holds a one-game lead with four left as the Orange Empire Conference race moves into its final two weeks.

But the last four games will offer difficult challenges for Coach Bill Brummel’s Gauchos. Saddleback plays host to Rancho Santiago (17-10, 6-4) on Wednesday. The Dons have slumped of late, losing three consecutive conference games for the first time since 1986.

Rancho Santiago, the two-time defending conference champions, are in fourth place and have little chance of a third-consecutive title.

On Friday, Saddleback travels to Riverside to play the second-place Tigers (22-7, 8-2). Riverside is at third-place Cypress (22-7, 7-3) Wednesday. All games are at 7 p.m.

Riverside and Saddleback offer contrasting styles; the Tigers average 95 points and the Gauchos 80. The Tigers also have the conference’s top two scorers in Lou Williams (26 points) and Darryle Flicking (24.6).

The Gauchos’ strength is their defense, which is allowing a conference-low 67 points per game. Riverside is allowing 84.

John Molle, a sophomore guard, tops Saddleback with an 18-point average and Antoine Jefferson, a freshman forward, is getting 16 points and a conference-best 10.8 rebounds.

Baseball and softball: The Cypress Kiwanis baseball tournament and the Rancho Santiago Lidlifter softball tournament take place this week.

In the opening round of the Cypress Kiwanis tournament Wednesday, Imperial Valley is at Cypress and Long Beach is at Golden West. Both games are at 2 p.m.

On Thursday, Mt. San Jacinto takes on Merced at Cypress and Moorpark plays Citrus at Golden West at 2 p.m.

The tournament continues Friday and Saturday, and the title game is at 11 a.m. Sunday at Cypress.

The Rancho Santiago Lidlifter softball tournament is at Bonita Creek Park in Newport Beach.

In Friday’s first-round games, Rancho Santiago plays Mesa College of Arizona and Cypress takes on Mt. San Antonio, both at 8:30 a.m.

At 10 a.m., Sacramento City, the defending state champion, plays Chaffey and San Diego Mesa goes against College of the Desert. The final first-round game is at noon, when Ventura plays Palomar.

Plays continues Friday afternoon and Saturday, and the title game is noon Sunday.

Community College Notes

Mark Flatten, a wide receiver who had 31 catches for 469 yards and six touchdowns for Rancho Santiago, will play at Missouri Valley State this fall. . . . The Cypress baseball team tied a school record for runs in a game when the Chargers beat Grossmont, 26-7, Saturday in the College of the Desert tournament. Cypress had beaten MiraCosta, 26-8, in 1990.

Fullerton was supposed to play Riverside Monday in the title game of the Fullerton Cerritos tournament, but because of rain the game was switched to 2 p.m. today.