OCC outruns El Camino

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - If every win is going to be like this for Orange Coast

College men’s basketball team, first-year coach Mark Hill might have to

ask for early retirement.

After falling behind by as many as 18 points in the second half, the

Pirates staged a furious comeback en route to a dramatic 108-105 overtime nonconference win over visiting El Camino Wednesday night.

Chad Hagedorn’s three-pointer at the buzzer sent the game into

overtime, where Dave Elliott scored eight of his 26 points in the extra

five minutes to lead the Bucs (2-1).

It was OCC’s second come-from-behind victory in three starts. Earlier

the Pirates trailed San Diego Mesa by 14 in the second half before

outscoring the Olympians, 33-9, for a 10-point win.

“It just goes to show you that you never quit,” Hill said. “We talked

about character and pride when we got down big in the second half. This

is a good group.”

The Pirates were down, 88-81, with 1:18 remaining in regulation when

Duc Nguyen’s three-pointer cut the lead to 88-84.

El Camino (1-4) hit numerous clutch free throws and actually led,

93-87, with less than 30 seconds remaining.

David Castleton, playing his first game since finishing up football

season, was fouled on a three-point attempt with 22 seconds left. He

drained all three to cut the lead to 93-90.

Two Warrior free throws stretched the lead to 95-90 before Castleton

drained a clutch three-pointer with 16 seconds remaining, cutting it to

95-92.

After an OCC foul, the Warriors made only one of two from the line

allowing the Pirates one last hope.

Point guard Ryan Earl found Hagedorn on the side and the 6-foot-4

freshman’s heave at the buzzer found the bottom of the net, sending the

game to overtime.

With the Warriors center on the bench after fouling out, Elliott was

able to control the middle, scoring eight of the Pirates’ 12 points in

OT.

Elliott finished with 26 points, Hagedorn had 24 and Nguyen 20,

including five three-pointers for the Pirates.

Castleton finished with 18 for his first game back, including his key

baskets in regulation.

“He played well considering he’s only been to two practices,” Hill

said. “He’s still learning the system and it will take him a couple of

weeks to get his wind up to speed and then he’ll be ready to go.”

Dorick Mahela had 23 points and Jason Gaines added 20 for the Warriors

who overcame an early 10-point first-half lead by the Pirates with

numerous fast-break opportunities.

“We were getting killed on the transition defense,” Hill said. “I

can’t begin to tell you how many easy baskets we gave up late in the

first half and early in the second half.”

The Pirates will throw down some turkey before heading out to Valencia

to take on Canyons College Friday at 7 p.m. before hosting their own

Orange Coast Tournament Dec. 2-4.

NONCONFERENCE

Orange Coast 108, El Camino 105 (OT)

El Camino - Hoffman 17, Castillo 12, Brooks 8, Gaines 20, Brown 19,

Mahela 23, Oden 2, Oshitelu 4.

3 pt. goals - Hoffman 2, Brown 1.

Fouled out - Castillo, Brooks, Oshitelu.

Technical fouls - none.

Orange Coast - Castleton 18, Earl 2, Nguyen 20, Beeler 14, Elliott 26,

Rivera 2, Cutler 2, Hagedorn 24.

3 pt. goals - Castleton 2, Nguyen 5, Beeler 1, Hagedorn 2.

Fouled out - Castleton, Beeler.

Technical fouls - none.

Halftime - El Camino, 52-44.