Jordan Fleck erupted for 29 pts as #10 Cypress rallied from a 10-point deficit for a 71-68 win over #5 Fullerton Friday to ensure that those teams finished tied for second in the Orange Empire Conference.
Cypress (22-6, 9-3) fell behind, 51-41, midway through the second half, taking a 64-61 lead with just over 4 minutes left. After that it was tight all the way until Fullerton (21-7, 9-3) missed a 3-pointer just before the final horn to allow the Chargers to hold on for the win.
That these programs are in this position is due to the remarkable transformations their young protege coaches have brought about. Cypress and Fullerton each won just 7 games two seasons ago. But Drew Alhedaff came to Cypress after several years at Irvine Valley before last season, and Perry Webster took over this season at Fullerton after several seasons at Saddleback, and the results have been dramatic as each team entered Friday with 21 wins.
Fullerton, which won the teams' first meeting, 79-77, in January, led by 9 points in the first half and by 10 midway through the second. The Hornets held a 61-57 lead when Kenny Barnes fouled out with just over 6 minutes remaining.
Cypress scored the game's next 7 points to take a 64-61 lead on a 3-pointer by Fleck with just over 4 minutes to go. Julian Richardson answered with a three to tie it moments later, tying the score at 64. Cypress took a 67-64 lead with 2:30 left, but Fullerton went back in front when Isaiah Clark scored off a pass from Richardson with 1:30 left.
On the next possession, Cypress' Jeremy Wright missed a jumper, but Cypress O'Shae Williams was awarded a pair of free throws when Fullerton was called for a loose ball foul on the rebound. Williams made both free throws with 1:11 left to put Cypress back in front, 69-68.
Fullerton still had multiple chances after that, but never scored again. On the final play Blake McBride, who had scored the Hornets' first 8 points of the game, had a good look from the left corner. His would-be game-tying 3-pointer was right on line but just short, and bounced off the rim, allowing the Chargers to hold on for the win.
For Cypress, Fleck led all scorers with his 29 pts, and he also had 5 rebs and 3 steals. Wright had 12 pts, 5 rebs and a team-high 6 asts. Nolan Kelly had 10 pts and 7 rebs.
For Fullerton, Richardson had 17 pts, a game-high 11 rebs and 3 asts, tallying a double-double before halftime. Barnes had 15 pts despite the early exit and despite sitting out much of the first half in foul trouble. McBride had 13 pts, 8 rebs, 3 asts and 4 steals. Ian Fox had a nightmarish game shooting the ball, going just 1-for-11, but dished out a game-high 10 asts and had just 1 turnover.
The result leaves Cypress and Fullerton tied for 2nd in the OEC behind Saddleback. Both teams now await the playoff draw this weekend to see where, rather than if, their seasons continue, another new concept the new coaches have brought to these programs.
Box Score
Friday, February 19, 2016 - 7 pm
at Cypress College
Orange Empire Conference
Fullerton Hornets 68:
10-Blake McBride, SF - 4/11 fg, 2/3 ft, 8 reb, 3 ast, 4 stl, 1 pf, 13 pts
11-Kenny Barnes, PF - 7/10 fg, 1/3 ft, 4 reb, 2 ast, 5 pf, 15 pts
12-Isaiah Clark, C - 2/6 fg, 3/5 ft, 6 reb, 2 blk, 1 stl, 3 pf, 7 pts
23-Julian Richardson, SG - 7/14 fg, 11 reb, 3 ast, 4 pf, 17 pts
32-Ian Fox, PG - 1/11 fg, 1/2 ft, 3 reb, 10 ast, 1 stl, 1 pf, 4 pts
21-Jayson Collins, F - 1/3 fg, 1 reb, 1 pf, 3 pts
4-Jesse Ghee, G - 0/1 fg, 1 pf, 0 pts
14-Adam Johnson, C - 3/6 fg, 3/5 ft, 4 reb, 1 ast, 2 pf, 9 pts
team rebounds: 3
Totals: 25/62 fg (.403), 10/18 ft (.556), 40 reb, 19 ast, 2 blk, 6 stl, 17 pf, 68 pts
3-pt fg (8): McBride 3, Richardson 3, Fox, Collins
Technical Foul: Clark
Fouled Out: Barnes 6:03 left
Turnovers (8): Richardson 4, Barnes, Fox Collins, Johnson
Cypress Chargers 71:
2-Jeremy Wright, PG - 5/11 fg, 2/2 ft, 5 reb, 6 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 12 pts
5-Nolan Kelly, SG - 3/11 fg, 3/4 ft, 7 reb, 1 ast, 3 pf, 10 pts
24-Austin Payne, PF - 3/8 fg, 0/4 ft, 8 reb, 2 blk, 1 stl, 5 pf, 7 pts
32-Jordan Fleck, SF - 10/20 ft, 7/8 ft, 5 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 3 stl, 2 pf, 29 pts
52-Joshua Currenton, C - 1/1 fg, 2 reb, 3 pf, 2 pts
21-Israel Barrera, F - 0/1 fg, 2 reb, 0 pts
45-Brian Robbs, C - 2/3 fg, 2/2 ft, 3 reb, 1 blk, 2 pf, 6 pts
3-Zachary Perez, G - 0/2 fg, 0 pts
4-O'Shae Williams, F - 1/3 fg, 3/4 ft, 5 reb, 2 ast, 2 pf, 5 pts
team rebounds: 2
Totals: 25/60 fg (.417), 17/24 ft (.708), 39 reb, 10 ast, 5 blk, 5 stl, 17 pf, 71 pts
3-pt fg (4): Fleck 2, Kelly, Payne
Technical Foul: Williams
Fouled Out: Payne 2:18 left
Turnovers (6): Wright 2, Kelly 2, Fleck, Perez
Halftime Score: Fullerton 40, Cypress 38
Updated Records: Cypress (#10-South, #19-Calif) 22-6, 9-3 in OEC; Fullerton (#5-South, #9-Calif) 21-7, 9-3 in OEC
Fullerton led 24-15 in the 1st half and 51-41 midway through the 2nd half.
Cypress tied it at 61 and took its final lead onm 2 FTs by Williams with 1:11 left.
McBride's would-be game-tying 3 in the final seconds was on line but just short and bounced off the rim.
