Community College Basketball Roundup : Golden West Tops Cypress in Double Overtime

Elbert Davis of Golden West College got a second chance to be a hero Saturday night and took advantage of it.

He made pair of free throws with 5 seconds left to help Golden West to a 96-95 double-overtime victory over Cypress in the Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball finale at Golden West.

Davis had made a three-pointer with 1:26 left in the second overtime to give Golden West a 94-91 lead.

Mike Varos made two free throws for Cypress to cut the lead to 94-93 with 1:17 left. After each team had a turnover, Golden West’s Steve Moser missed the front end of a one-and-one with 30 seconds left, and Cypress got the ball and set up for one shot.

But Cypress guard Jay Barrington slid his pivot foot as he tried to move around a defender and was called for traveling with 6 seconds left.

Davis was fouled a second later on the inbounds pass and made both free throws to put Golden West ahead, 96-93. Cypress got the ball upcourt, but it was knocked loose to Cypress’ Wendell Lauderdale, who was under the basket. He made a short shot as time ran out.

Davis had missed the front end of a one-and-one with 20 seconds left in the first overtime. Cypress’ Nate Shea-han made a layup with 2 seconds in the first overtime to tie it, 86-86. The teams were tied, 71-71, at the end of regulation.

“I always dreamed about making a shot to win a game like that,� said Davis, a sophomore point guard. “The first time I had a chance I choked. This time I redeemed myself. I knew I was going to make it. After the first one, the second one was easy.�

Steve Moser led Golden West with 26 points, 14 in the second half. Markus Muller-Stach and Alex Kreps had 18 each and Davis 16.

Golden West (20-11 overall, 5-7 in conference) ended in a four-way tie for third place with Cypress (13-16, 5-7), Orange Coast (20-11, 5-7) and Fullerton (20-10, 5-7). Riverside won the conference title, and Rancho Santiago was second.

Riverside and Rancho Santiago have already qualified for the Southern California Regional playoffs. The other teams will have to wait until the seeding committee meets Monday morning.

The top 26 teams in Southern California make the playoffs, so Fullerton, Orange Coast and Golden West are almost assured of berths because of their overall records. Cypress and Saddleback also have outside chances because of the strength of the conference.

Cypress led, 36-32, at the half mostly because of the strong play of Varos. He had 14 points in the half including making four three-pointers. Varos scored only two points in the second half but had 11 points in the first overtime and ended with 32.

He set a Cypress single-game record with eight three-pointers. He was nine of 18 from the field and eight of 14 on three-pointers.

Vince Hizon had 16, Nate Shea-han 12 and Jay Barrington 10 for Cypress.

Fullerton 61, Saddleback 59--Ralph Talent drove the lane to score and break a 59-59 tie with 4 seconds remaining to lead Fullerton, which finished 20-10 overall, 5-7 in conference play. Mike Goff and Darryl Griffen scored 16 points to lead Fullerton. Wun Versher scored 16 points and Vincent Mason 15 to pace Saddleback (10-18, 3-9).

Riverside 55, Orange Coast 52--OCC’s Dareck Crane, who finished with 20 points, barely missed a half-court shot at the buzzer in the conference finale at Orange Coast. Riverside led, 26-25, at halftime. Bobby Joyce had 17 points to lead Riverside (26-8, 11-1).