Fullerton Has Cure for Coach See

Roger See, the Fullerton men’s basketball coach, stopped watching his team for a moment Saturday as the Hornets were playing in the title game of the Riverside tournament.

It wasn’t a poorly thrown pass or an ill-advised shot that made See look away. Instead, it was his quest for an aspirin to relieve his pounding headache.

Even before he was back to the bench, See was yelling encouragement to his team. Afterward, he said it was the second consecutive game that he has had a headache. He isn’t sure what the cause is, but one thing is sure: It has nothing to do with the way the Hornets are playing.

Fullerton, with five returning starters, is 12-2 after winning the 16-team Riverside holiday tournament Saturday with a 95-77 victory over Irvine Valley.

There were several high points in the tournament for Fullerton.

The improving play of sophomore Kevin Carlson, who averaged 20 points and was the tournament’s most valuable player, was a major one.

“Kevin has struggled on offense this year until now, but he is really playing great defense,” See said. “He said he felt like he didn’t belong on the court, so he started to work really hard on his defense.”

The tournament also showed Fullerton’s depth.

The Hornets were without Bobby Natoya, a sophomore guard and team captain, for most of the four games. He missed the first two games and played less than 10 minutes each in the other two because of a sore back. Natoya started the week averaging a team-best 22 points.

Carlson is averaging 15 points and seven rebounds. Eddie Cochran, a sophomore forward, is averaging 12 points and six rebounds and sophomore guard Tamar Ross 16 points and four assists.

Besides a victory over Irvine Valley, Fullerton also beat Golden West, 107-83, in the quarterfinals. All three teams are members of the Orange Empire Conference.

Although the early success is nice, See said his players aren’t satisfied.

“Bobby Natoya, our team captain, has been talking all along about a conference title and so forth,” See said. “Now the guys are starting to believe. But we are going to have to be playing better by conference. We know that.”

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Pasadena car-pool: Fullerton could run into conference foes Rancho Santiago and Orange Coast this weekend, when all teams take part in the Pasadena tournament. Rancho Santiago goes against Rio Hondo at 2 p.m., Fullerton plays Santa Barbara at 6 p.m. and Orange Coast takes on Pasadena at 8 p.m.

The Fullerton-Santa Barbara winner plays the East Los Angeles-Los Angeles Valley winner in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Friday.

The Rancho Santiago-Rio Hondo winner plays the Orange Coast-Pasadena winner in the other semifinal at 8 p.m. Friday. The title game is at 8 p.m. Saturday.

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All-Americans: Scott von der Ahe, who was selected the most valuable defensive player of the Mission Conference Central Division, added J.C. Grid-Wire All-American to his list of honors. He was the only local player to make the first team.

From Mission Viejo High School, von der Ahe set Saddleback career records for tackles (206) and sacks (22.5).

John Grootegoed, an offensive lineman from Orange Coast, made the second team.

Players who received honorable mention were: running back Jeff Clayton (Orange Coast), wide receiver Vince Wilson (Fullerton), offensive lineman Jesse Gomez (Rancho Santiago), defensive linemen Bernie Johnson (Saddleback) and Efriam Miranda (Orange Coast), linebackers Israel Ifeanyi (Orange Coast) and Andy Osborne (Saddleback), defensive back Scott Caringella (Golden West), kick returner Ryan Roskelly (Fullerton) and punter Justin Sogoian (Orange Coast).

Four Orange County players made the J.C. Grid-Wire’s scholar/athlete All-American first team. Miranda, Caringella and Sogoian along with offensive lineman George Burge of Rancho Santiago made the team.

Mike Fouts (quarterback) of Saddleback and von der Ahe where on the scholar/athlete honorable mention team.

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Plenty of pins: Rancho Santiago’s Matt Padgett had the nickname “Buffalo” at Canyon High School because of the way he stampeded toward opponents. He set what is believed to be a national high school record with 114 pins in three years.

Last weekend he became the second wrestler in history to win a State title by pinning all four opponents.

Padgett (167 pounds) finished his night by pinning Fresno’s Brian Haupt in the title match. Padgett (32-3 with 19 pins) was selected as the meet’s outstanding wrestler.