Fullerton Gets the Best of Perennial-Power Saddleback

The shift of power among Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball teams became more obvious Wednesday when upstart Fullerton beat established-power Saddleback, 61-53, at Fullerton.

Fullerton (12-9, 5-0), undefeated, will host the only other unbeaten team in the conference, Irvine Valley, at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Irvine Valley beat Riverside, 90-76, Wednesday.

Riverside and Saddleback had tied for the last two conference titles. Riverside is two games out of first and Saddleback (11-9, 2-3) is three back with two games left in the first half.

Things started out pretty well for Saddleback, which led, 31-25, at the end of the first half.

But Fullerton got a second-half boost from freshman guard Erine Burries, who moved into the starting lineup and scored 13 of his team-high 14 points.

Burries, normally a starter, was on the bench to begin the game because he missed a practice this week.

Burries keyed a 19-2 run by Fullerton in the first seven minutes of the half. He had eight of the 19 points for the Hornets.

Jeff Luszeck, who took Burries’ spot in the lineup to start the game, scored the key basket late in the game.

With Fullerton leading, 55-52, Ty-Juan Berry drove toward the basket only to have his six-foot shot blocked.

Fullerton’s Anthony Steen raced for the ball, then passed to Luszeck who made a 14-footer with 37 seconds left.

Poor free-throw shooting was a key to the Gauchos’ undoing. Scott Duffy had a team-high 12 points but made two of 10 free throws in the second half.

Saddleback was 10 of 23 in the game.

In other conference games:

Cypress 90, Rancho Santiago 77--Willie Allen hit seven three-pointers to lead Cypress (11-9, 3-2) with 21 points. Abner DaHomey added 18 points and Frankie Floyd scored 17 points, had 11 rebounds and six assists. Rancho Santiago (12-8, 1-4) was led by Lohnnie Tape with 19 points.

Irvine Valley 90, Riverside 76--Daryl Todd had 19 points and 10 rebounds and J.C. Timmons also scored 19 points for visiting Irvine Valley, which shot 55% from the field in the second half and held Riverside to 40% field-goal shooting in the game.

Damian Raibon added 15 points off the bench for the Lasers (17-6, 5-0), who remained in first place.

Aaron Owens scored 25 points for Riverside (15-9, 3-2).

Orange Coast 78, Golden West 57--Orange Coast used a 12-0 run to build a 45-25 lead in the second half. Jovan Robinson, who was nine for 14 from the field, scored 19 points and had 12 rebounds for Orange Coast (10-11, 1-4).

Jacy Armbruster had a game-high 22 points to lead Golden West (5-16, 0-5).

In Orange Empire Conference women’s basketball:

Cypress 63, Rancho Santiago 53--Linda Rodriguez scored 28 points, including four three-pointers, giving her 54 for the season and surpass the previous single-season school record of 53.

The previous record was set by Stephanie Werdel in the 1994-95 season.

Teammate Mary Perry added 16 points. Rancho Santiago (16-5, 3-2) was led by Antoinette Thompson with 22 points and 11 rebounds.