Orange Coast will come in waves

occm-hoops-previewThe Pirates plan to run the floor and use their depth to wear down opponents this season.The Orange Coast College men’s basketball team plans to come at opponents in waves this year. Fifth-year coach Scott Spencer likes his depth, and he intends to use it.

In fact, Spencer would substitute every 45 seconds, on the fly, without a stoppage in play if it was within the rules because he has a good amount of talent and he likes an up-tempo style of basketball.

“We have good depth, so we might substitute five players at a time, bring them in the game in waves,” Spencer said. “No one will play 40 minutes. We might have a first team, a second team and a third team.”

The first wave of players includes returning starters Lance Ortiz and Reggie Brown. Ortiz, a 6-foot point guard, was the Pirates’ leading scorer last year at 14.5 points per game -- including 36 % from three-point land. He’s a returning first-team All-Orange Empire Conference selection.

“He’s a good all-around player,” Spencer said. “He’s a smart player who makes good decisions with the ball.”

Brown, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard, averaged 10.7 points a game and shot 33.3% from three-point range.

“He likes to have the ball at the end of games,” Spencer said. “He’s starting to get more rebounds and he’s improving on defense and on the boards.”

Slated to join Ortiz and Brown in the starting lineup are sophomore guard Greg Okwudibonye (a bounce back from Cal State Northridge), Alvin Jackson (freshman guard) or Rodrick Ulmer (3 freshman guard), and 6-foot-6 sophomore Matt Davis, who averaged 10 points and accumulated 44 blocked shots in 14 games last season.

“Davis had a few starts last year -- he has very good upside,” Spencer said. “He can run the floor well. He’s a good passer and shot-blocker, and he’s very intelligent.”

The Pirates plan to stay on the move and score a lot of points.

“We’re going to continue to press and play an up-tempo style,” Spencer said. “We want to average in the 70s in points. We have more people that can put the ball in the hoop this year, and that takes pressure off our defense.”

Orange Coast’s second wave of players includes sophomore guard James Estrada, freshman guard Cameron Wise, center Steve Cornett, guard Mykel Valentine (16 of 32 from three-point land last year) and guard Steve Mendoza (25 three pointers off the bench last year).

Other key players include guard Daniel Mathews, freshman Dan Rudisil, forward Kevin Matthews, guard Miguel Gonzalez, wing player Marcus McAdams, guard Aaron Green out of Oregon, and Nahum Berhan.

Spencer plucked Rudisil, Cornett and Matthews out of his physical education class last year.

“They are all a year removed from playing competitively,” Spencer said. “They played in high school, but they didn’t go out for the team last year. I’m looking for all of them to contribute. We’re not very big. The P.E. guys are three of our biggest guys.”

Spencer, in his fifth season at Orange Coast, likes his club’s chemistry and depth and expects them to surpass last year’s showing of 15-12 overall and 6-8 in the Orange Empire Conference.

“Our benchmark is 20 wins. If we do that, the playoffs will fall in line,” Spencer said.

Orange Coast opens the season today against Oxnard at 3 p.m. in the Ventura Tournament. The Pirates’ home opener is Nov. 18 against Imperial Valley at 5 p.m.

THE PIRATES

3 Mykel Valentine So.

4 Daniel Mathews So.

5 Lance Ortiz So.

11 James Estrada So.

13 Miguel Gonzalez Fr.

14 Aaron Green Fr.

15 Steve Mendoza So.

20 Nahum Berhan Fr.

21 Alvin Jackson Fr.

23 Marcus McAdams Fr.

24 Greg Okwudibonye So.

25 Rodrick Ulmer Fr.

31 Kevin Matthews Fr.

32 Cameron Wise Fr.

33 Reggie Brown So.

34 Steven Cornett Fr.

40 Matt Davis So.

42 Dan Rudisil Fr.

Coach: Scott Spencer (fifth year)

20051110JR1KPMBQNo Caption