Saddleback Holds Off Feisty Golden West to Win, 83-70

Saddleback opened a 25-point lead at the half, and for a few minutes in the second half it looked as if the Gauchos would need every bit of it against hard-charging Golden West.

But host Saddleback held off the Rustlers and won, 83-70, in an Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday.

Saddleback led, 50-25, at the half, but thanks mostly to frantic, hustling play, Golden West came as close as seven, 73-66, with 4 minutes 27 seconds left.

Golden West forced a turnover and had a chance to move closer, but Vernon Jackson got a steal and a layup to put Saddleback ahead, 75-66, with 3:06 left.

Saddleback (10-13, 5-2) is tied for first with Irvine Valley at the halfway point. The teams play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Irvine Valley. The Gauchos lost the first two conference games but have won five in a row since.

“We’re playing a lot better,” Saddleback Coach Bill Brummel said. “It took this team a long time to come together. We just know better what we need to do and it took the coaches a long time to learn our players’ strengths and weaknesses.”

Free-throw shooting was an obvious strength for Saddleback Wednesday. The Gauchos made 14 of 15 in the second half and 21 of 25 overall.

Guard Kenzie Weir made nine of 11 free throws, including eight of eight in the second half for Saddleback. He had a game-high 22 points.

Forward Marshall Freeman added 17 points, including making five of six free throws. Freeman, who scored 13 points in the first half, also had a game-high 11 rebounds.

Ben Rogers had 14 points and Todd Jones 13 for Golden West (6-18, 1-6), which upset host Riverside, 71-70, Friday. But Golden West struggled early Wednesday.

Saddleback outscored the Rustlers, 13-1, in the final three minutes of the first half, but the Rustlers increased the pressure in the second half to get close.