The 2017 Orange Empire Conference season is off and running with many of the teams looking to challenge last season's champ, Saddleback College, for the title.
There are currently three teams in the OEC that are ranked top 20 in the state, according to the last poll posted on January 9.
Ranked #2 in the state, Saddleback College is making a strong push for their sixth consecutive Orange Empire Conference championship. The Gauchos have an overall record of 16-2 and an OEC record of 2-0. The are riding an eleven-game win-streak led by sophomore All-American TJ Shorts, who is averaging 18.8 points a game (2nd in the OEC). Sophomore big man Breaon Brady has been an important gear in the Gaucho machine averaging 12.1 points and 6.4 rebounds a game. Freshman Jake Hawes is averaging 9.8 points a game and is an effective three-point shooter.
The Fullerton College Hornets were ranked #4 in the state in December, but two losses (Mt. SAC 74-70 overtime and #11 Compton 89-68) have now placed them at the #13 spot. Still a top 20-team, Fullerton boasts an overall record of 13-5 and an OEC record of 2-0. The Hornets have four players averaging over 10 points a game. Leading the way is sophomore Dillon Reise who is scoring 12.2 points with 5.2 rebounds. Sophomore Kenny Barnes is averaging 12.1 points with 5.1 rebounds and sophomore Ian Fox is averaging 11.9 with 3.4 rebounds. Freshman Kendall Lauderdale has been a nice addition to the team averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds.
Ranked 11th in the state, the Riverside City Tigers are 14-4 overall and 1-0 in the Orange Empire Conference. Like Fullerton, the Tigers also have a balanced attack with four players averaging in double-digits. Freshman Brandon Thomas leads the pack averaging 13.8 points. Freshman Andre Wilson is averaging 13.1 points and leads the OEC in three-point shooting (48.2%). Freshman Brae Ivy is averaging 11.6 points and 4.4 rebounds a game and sophomore Any Cleaves is averaging 11.4 points a game.
The Irvine Valley College Lasers come into OEC conference-play with an overall record of 10-7 and conference record of 1-1. They are ranked #15 in the SoCal Regional poll along with Cerritos and Mt. San Antonio. The Lasers are a dangerous team that can beat any team on any given night. They came very close to winning Saddleback's Bill Brummel Tournament a couple of weeks ago before losing to the Gauchos in the tournament's title game 60-52. Freshman standout Lance Coleman II leads the OEC in points per game with 20.5. He also averages 6.4 rebounds a game. Sophomores Zuri Williams and Mike Turner average 9.3 and 9.2 points.
Sitting at 8-8 overall and 0-1 in the OEC, the Cypress College Chargers will be in the mix when it comes to conference-play.Dropping their first four games of the season, the Chargers turned it back around early beating some tough teams in #20 Diablo Valley (74-66) and Sequoias (66-52). Sophomore guard O'Shae Williams leads the team in points averaging 15 a game (3rd in the OEC). He also averages 5.9 rebounds. Sophomore Jordan Rohan averages 10.5 points a game and 3 rebounds.
Just under .500, the Orange Coast College Pirates have an overall record of 9-11 and an OEC record of 0-2. The Pirates are a well-balanced team that can sneak up on their opponent. They nearly beat Saddleback College in the conference opener last week falling short 63-59. Leading the Pirates is a pair of sophomore guards in Ryan Fusco and Josh Mendoza. Fusco is averaging 11.6 points a game, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. Mendoza is averaging 11 points.
The Santa Ana College Dons are riding a four-game losing streak and are 5-13 overall with an Orange Empire Conference record of 0-2. The Dons have the potential to stun a team or two like their December 1st victory over 12th ranked (in SoCal) Chaffey College, 74-70. At the time, the Panthers were ranked 4th in the state. Sophomore Jason Walker is the offensive catalyst scoring 12.6 points a game and averages 3.2 rebounds. Sophomore point guard Andrew Harper runs the floor averaging 9.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists.
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