Hoop dreams, ala OCC

Swish. Squeak, squeak. Buzzzzz. Ahh, basketball season is in

full-swing as the calendar has flipped to January, and the hardwood

is the place to be to watch a couple of Orange Coast College teams

tasting early-season success.

Coast’s women’s team has vaulted to a 12-game winning streak and a

2-0 record in Orange Empire Conference play following its 55-47

victory over Riverside Friday.

The Bucs are 17-3 and have played a tough schedule so far, said

Coach Mike Thornton, in his 14th season with the Pirates.

“We’ve had three losses to good teams which have helped us grow,”

Thornton said. “We’ve also avoided major injuries.”

Sophomore center Lauren Murray missed both Wednesday and Friday

games with the flu. Other than that, Thornton’s squad has kept

healthy for the most part.

Sophomore All-OEC point guard Nancy Hatsushi leads the team with

5.5 assists per game while Murray leads the Pirates in blocks with 20

and in rebounds per game (6.7).

“We play as a team and we all get along,” said Hatsushi, who notes

a difference between last year’s 25-9 team and this season’s edition.

“Last year we relied on Kyra (Melville, who graduated). You have to

have other go-to players and we have that this year. Everyone has

talent and we don’t rely on one person.”

Thornton isn’t shy when describing Hatsushi.

“She is the most efficient, intelligent point guard I’ve ever had

who is doing more with the offense than we’ve ever had,” Thornton

said.

One of the bright spots for Thornton has been the emergence of

6-foot freshman Alisa Carrillo, who leads the team in scoring per

game (13.9), followed by sophomore Liz Mendoza’s 12.6 average and then Hatsushi with 9.6. Carrillo has also grabbed a team-leading

total 125 rebounds.

Other community colleges tried to land Carrillo, the Golden West

League Most Valuable Player as a senior at Saddleback last season, so

Thornton feels he got a steal.

Carrillo began the season coming off the bench but has landed a

starting role in a sophomore-laden squad that starts four.

“(Carrillo) has been coming on strong and that’s been the

difference,” Thornton said. “We have a much stronger inside game

because of her. We thought she had a lot of talent and is close to

becoming a Division I prospect. If only she was 6-foot-2 instead of

6-feet, but oh well. We were very fortunate to get her.”

On the men’s side, second-year coach Steve Spencer said the

Pirates (12-6, 1-1 in the OEC as of Friday) still “haven’t sustained

the level they’re capable of playing at” for a full game.

“I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made but I’m never

satisfied,” Spencer said. “You have to learn from the bad things.

Good teams peak at the end of the year. Our goal is always the

conference and state championships. I think the guys are laying a

foundation for that tradition.”

Sophomore Jason Garey leads the team in ppg with 15.2 followed by Stephon Seales’ 13 average and freshman Aaron Bobik’s 10.7 mark.

Seales has hit 43 of 50 (86%) free-throw attempts and Brian Bobik

(Aaron’s brother) has grabbed a team-leading 90 rebounds. Aaron leads

the team in field goal shooting, 51.2% on 63 of 123 attempts.

“The Bobiks are at the heart of what we’re doing because of their

effort,” Spencer said. “They play hard all the time and cause matchup

problems. They dive for loose balls and take charges.”

Garey also leads the team in field goals made (80) and in

three-point shooting (70 for 160 -- 43.8%).

“He works extra hard on his game and has always got a good chance

of knocking down three-pointers,” Spencer said. “He’s hit nine

(three-pointers) in one game and eight in another. If you hit nine in

a game you’re doing something right. He’s got a passion for the

game.”

All roads lead through defending state-champion Saddleback in the

OEC, according to Spencer, who also said Irvine Valley will also be

strong this season.

Saddleback has raced to a mark of 13-5, 2-0 in the OEC after

beating IVC (12-5, 1-1), 75-56, Friday.

“No team in this conference can show up and expect to win,”

Spencer said. “Each team is well-coached. You have to bring it every

night.”

The Pirates have a plus-4 lead in turnover margin over their

opponents but have a worse field-goal shooting percentage than their

competition (41% to 46%) while other teams have combined to

outrebound Coast, 644-616.

So what’s the secret to Coast’s success according to Spencer?

“One of our strength’s is depth,” Spencer said. “I don’t feel bad

about putting anyone in the game. No one has played more than 25

minutes in a game. Guys are accepting their roles and doing whatever

it takes.”