8/1/11: McQueen says yes to Windsor
 Saddleback forward Jahmal McQueen became the eighth member of the 2010-11 men’s basketball team to sign with a 4-year university this past week. McQueen will continue his basketball career at the University of Windsor, according to the basketball office.
McQueen was a transfer player from the University of Toronto, and will head back to Canada to play at Windsor in Ontario. He played in 24 games this past season, averaging 3.8 points and 2.9 rebounds-per-game for the Gauchos while shooting 59% from the field. McQueen had a season-high 13 points against College of the Desert on December 5.
The University of Windsor is located in Windsor, Ontario, and plays in the Ontario University Athletics Conference. The Lancers finished 18-9 overall and 16-6 in conference play this past season.
Basketball Commits
Wendell Faines, PF, Idaho
Prince Obasi, G, Seattle
Vincent Hatter-Rolland, PF, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Johnel Gray, F, Texas A&M International
Terrell Mack, F, Hawaii-Hilo
Marquis Green, F, Wayland Baptist
Myron Green, G, Cal State Dominguez Hills
Jahmal McQueen, F, Windsor (CAN)
7/25/11: Green is the latest Gaucho to sign
 The Saddleback men’s basketball program reached seven commitments this past week when sophomore guard Myron Green signed a letter of intent to a 4-year university. Green will continue his career at Cal State Dominguez Hills, according to the basketball office.
Green had a solid year for the Gaucho program, averaging 11.7 points-per-game and 5.5 rebounds in being named to the Orange Empire Conference First Team following the season. He was a transfer from Ball State University, after graduating from Dominguez High School.
Cal State Dominguez Hills is located in Carson, California, and plays an NCAA DII schedule in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The Toros finished 23-7 overall in 2010-11, losing in the first round of the West Regional.
Green becomes the seventh member of the 2010-11 team to commit to a 4-year university.
Basketball Commits
Wendell Faines, PF, Idaho
Prince Obasi, G, Seattle
Vincent Hatter-Rolland, PF, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Johnel Gray, F, Texas A&M International
Terrell Mack, F, Hawaii-Hilo
Marquis Green, F, Wayland Baptist
Myron Green, G, Cal State Dominguez Hills
7/11/11: Basketball commits climbs to six
 Another member of the 2010-11 men’s basketball team has committed to a 4-year university, running the total to six for the year. According to the basketball office, forward Marquis Green has committed to Wayland Baptist University, in Plainview, Texas.
Green averaged 8.9 points-per-game in 33 games for the Gauchos, leading the team in both three-point attempts and three-pointers made, shooting 40% from beyond the arc. He also made good on 72% of his free throws and had a season-high 22 points versus Los Angeles Southwest College on December 3.
Wayland Baptist University is an NAIA affiliated program, playing in the Sooner Athletic Conference. The Pioneers finished 9-20 in 2010-11.
Green becomes the sixth member of the team to commit to 4-year universities.
Basketball Commits
Wendell Faines, PF, Idaho
Prince Obasi, G, Seattle
Vincent Hatter-Rolland, PF, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Johnel Gray, F, Texas A&M International
Terrell Mack, F, Hawaii-Hilo
Marquis Green, F, Wayland Baptist
6/10/11: Two more cagers sign on dotted line
 Two more members of the 2010-11 men’s basketball team have inked deals to 4-year universities, running the total to five for the year. According to the basketball office, sophomores Johnel Gray and Terrell Mack have made decisions on where they will continue their respective careers.
Gray has decided to take his game to Texas A&M International, located in Laredo, Texas. The two-year Gaucho was a part of the state title team in 2009-10, and helped Saddleback go 56-12 in his two years in the program. He played a vital role on two straight teams, averaging 6.2 points-per-game in 65 games, shooting 47% from the field and 37% from 3-point range. Gray also collected 157 rebounds and had 76 assists in his two seasons with the Gauchos. Texas A&M International plays an NCAA DII schedule in the Heartland Conference. The Dustdevils were co-champions of the conference in 2010-11, finishing 19-10 overall.
 Mack will continue his career at Hawaii-Hilo, and played on both the 2008-09 and 2010-11 Gaucho teams that combined to go 56-15, making it to the state tournament twice but never winning the big prize. He averaged seven points-per-game in his two years, shooting 45% from the field and 33% from 3-point range. In addition, Mack collected 153 rebounds and 44 assists in his two seasons in the program over 62 games. Hawaii-Hilo is located in Hilo, Hawaii, and plays an NCAA DII schedule in the Pacific West Conference. The Vulcans finished the 2010-11 campaign at 18-11 overall, and in fifth place in the PWC.
Basketball Commits
Wendell Faines, PF, Idaho
Prince Obasi, G, Seattle
Vincent Hatter-Rolland, PF, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Johnel Gray, F, Texas A&M International
Terrell Mack, F, Hawaii-Hilo
5/17/11: Two more Gauchos commit to 4-year schools
  The Saddleback basketball team made it to the final four this past season, finishing 27-7 and taking home a number of awards in the process. Two more members of the team recently signed letters of intent, with guard Prince Obasi and forward Vincent Hatter-Rolland make their decisions.
According to the coaching staff, Obasi said yes to Seattle University while Hatter-Rolland will continue his basketball career at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Obasi was a transfer to the program from Howard College in Texas. He finished the season averaging 7.9 points-per-game, with 4.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Obasi had a season-high 22 points against Mt. San Antonio College on November 9.
Hatter-Rolland was a two-year player for the Gauchos, playing as a backup to Wendell Faines, who earlier in the year committed to the University of Idaho. Hatter-Rolland played in all 34 games, averaging two points-per-game while finishing second on the team with 14 blocks. He scored a season-high five points on three separate occasions this past season, averaging 3.1 rebounds-per-game.
Basketball Commits
Wendell Faines, PF, Idaho
Prince Obasi, G, Seattle
Vincent Hatter-Rolland, PF, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
3/22/11: Basketball takes home prestigious honors
 The men’s basketball team came up just short on its ultimate goal of winning back-to-back state titles in 2010-11 but that doesn’t mean people weren’t paying attention to Gaucho basketball on the whole. Power forward Wendell Faines was selected co-Player-of-the-Year by the coaches in Southern California while head coach Andy Ground was selected Southern California Coach-of-the-Year as Saddleback made its third straight appearance at the state tournament.
Faines was a one-man wrecking crew at times for the Gauchos, leading the team in nearly every statistical category. He led the Orange Empire  Conference in field goal percentage (56%) and blocks (2.5) while finishing second in the OEC in rebounds (8.1) and fifth in free throw percentage (78%). Faines joins Mt. San Antonio guard Antonio Biglow in sharing the honor of co-Player-of-the-Year for the 2010-11 season.
Ground is now 85-20 through three seasons as the head coach at Saddleback, taking his team to the final four on all three occasions. He led the Gaucho program to a state title in 2009-10 and finished runner-up in 2008-09. Ground’s .809 winning % is second only to former coach Bill Mulligan (.814), who coached the Saddleback program from 1976-80.
In addition to Faines and Ground winning awards at the state level, both Myron Green and Marquis Green were named to the All-Orange Empire Conference First Team while Prince Obasi was named honorable mention. Faines was named the co-MVP of the OEC along with Andrew Fisk of Riverside College.
3/13/11: Men’s basketball season comes to an end in Ventura
The Saddleback men’s basketball team had its streak of two straight appearances in the title game come to a close on Friday night when it fell to top-rated City College of San Francisco, 65-60, in the state semifinals. The Gauchos led by as many as five points with less than 10 minutes remaining, but could hold on for the win in finishing the season 27-7.
Saddleback trialed by six points at the intermission but came out hot to start the second half. The Gauchos scored the first seven points of the final 20 minutes and 22 of the first 31 to take a 47-42 lead with 9:35 remaining in the game. From there on out, Saddleback made just 4-of-12 shots and committed three turnovers, allowing San Francisco to spend a lot of time at the free throw line down the stretch.
Despite a woeful second half at the charity stripe, the Rams took 33 total free throws on the night while Saddleback had just 21 attempts. The Gauchos were whistled for 24 fouls to San Francisco’s 17, as Wendell Faines, Vonchae Richardson and Myron Green all played with four fouls down the stretch.
Saddleback had its opportunities as it dictated the pace of the game throughout, but the Gauchos struggled at shooting from the outside all night long, finishing just 4-of-17 from 3-point range for the night.
“We had our opportunities, but didn’t take advantage of them,” head coach Andy Ground said. “I thought our guys played hard, but we just didn’t make enough shots.”
Faines led Saddleback with a game-high 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting as San Francisco had no answer for the 6-foot-9 power forward from Nebraska. He would leave the game with a leg injury with just over two minutes remaining after being called for his fourth foul and the Rams leading by seven. He would later return for the final minute of the game, but was in obvious pain with time running out on the season.
San Francisco finished with four players in double-figures, led by Jonathan Williams with 15. The two biggest shots of the night for the Rams, however, came from Ivan Dorsey. He gave the Rams a 52-51 lead on a three-point play with 4:31 remaining and on the very next possession, nailed a three-pointer to give San Francisco a 55-53 lead, as Saddleback would never lead again the rest of the way.
Saddleback finishes the season 27-7 and now has an 85-20 record over the past three season with Ground as coach. San Francisco (31-1) will take on Citrus College in the state title game on Sunday after the Owls defeated Fresno City College, 94-84, in the other semifinal.
3/6/11: Gauchos to face top-rated San Francisco in state semifinals
The Saddleback men’s basketball team will face City College of San Francisco in the state semifinals on Friday at 5:00 PM at Ventura College. The Gauchos head to the final four as the lowest seed in the tournament for the second straight season, looking to defend their state title from a year ago.
Saddleback defeated San Francisco in the state title game a year ago (63-57), jumping out to a big lead before holding on to win its second state title in eight years. It is the Gauchos’ third straight appearance in the final four and the eighth in the past 11 years.
Saddleback will once again be the underdog, as the Gauchos are the lowest seed in the tournament. Saddleback entered the Southern California playoffs as the No. 7 seed, while San Francisco was the top seed up north and has been rated no. 1 in the state for the majority of the season.
“We clearly have our work cur out for ourselves this time around,” head coach Andy Ground (pictured) said. “The two teams representing the north were the top two teams in the state all season long and it will take a tremendous effort on our part if we are going to have any success in Ventura.”
 San Francisco enters the tournament at 30-1 overall, with its lone loss of the season coming in a shootout against Fresno City College, 107-103. The Rams had co-MVP winners in the Coast North Division, with guards DeEnd Parker (6’5, 215) and Jonathan Williams (6’5, 225) leading the way. Not to be outdone, San Francisco had two more players named to the first team with guard Collin Chiverton (6’5, 200) and forward Fred Sturdivant (6’7, 200) both receiving post-season accolades.
Parker recently gave a verbal commitment to UCLA, scoring 11.9 points-per-game. He shot 50% from the field, 44% from 3-point range and 77% from the free throw line. Parker also led his team in assists (4.8) and was solid on the glass, averaging 5.4 rebounds-per-game on the season.
Despite all the heroics for Parker, he finished only fourth on the team in scoring, as Chiverton led the Rams on offense (16.4) followed by Williams (14.5) and Sturdivant (12.1). San Francisco also had one other player average double-figures on offense, as freshman guard Ivan Dorsey averaged 11.3 points-per-game on the season. Sturdivant was also the workhorse under the basket, leading the Rams with 7.4 rebounds-per-game.
San Francisco has outscored its opponents by an average of 18.7 points-per-game on the season, second only to Fresno City (18.9). CCSF averaged 83.9 points on the season, shooting 39% from 3-point range and 47% from the field. Conversely, Saddleback played a defensive style of ball for the majority of the season, averaging just 73.4 points per game on offense while finishing second in the state in defense (58.7). The Gauchos will be joined in the tournament from the south by Citrus College, who outscored opponents by 12.2 points-per-game. The Owls were the top scoring team in Southern California, averaging 88.5 points-per-game during the season.
San Francisco advanced to the tournament with wins over No. 17 Butte (86-52), No. 8 Reedley (69-56) and No. 5 Santa Rosa (82-66). Saddleback advanced to the tournament with wins over No. 10 Barstow (75-52), No. 2 Southwestern (67-59) and No. 11 Mt. San Jacinto (66-63).
Inside the Numbers:
Offensive Scoring (with state ranking)
(1) Fresno City 91.8
(2) Citrus 88.5
(9) San Francisco 83.9
(42) Saddleback 73.4
Defensive Scoring (with state ranking)
(2)
Saddleback 58.7
(13) San Francisco 65.2
(41) Fresno City 72.9
(62) Citrus 76.3
3/5/11: Gauchos given the Green light to Ventura
 In one of the more exciting games you ever see on any level, Saddleback advanced to its third straight state tournament with a 66-63 win over Mt. San Jacinto College on Saturday night at the Saddleback Gymnasium. Marquis Green (pictured) nailed a 22-foot shot from the corner with 0.8 seconds remaining on the clock as the Gauchos survived a scare in gaining the opportunity to defend their state title.
Green had made just 1-of-7 from three-point range heading into the final five seconds as Kristopher Brooks made 1-of-2 free throws for Mt. San Jacinto to tie the game. Vonchae Richardson took the inbound pass on a dead run and when he hit mid-court, found Green open in the corner. Green never hesitated, tickling the twine and sending the gymnasium into a frenzy. The officials were forced remove fans from the court before Mt. San Jacinto had one last desperation try. The ball came up well short and the Gaucho faithful rejoiced with a great sigh of relief, after being pushed to the brink by a Mt. San Jacinto team that came into the matchup as a heavy underdog.
Wendell Faines and Myron Green both finished with 17 points apiece and Prince Obasi added 13 as both teams struggled from the field in the second half of play. The two teams combined for 43 free throws in the second frame, with Mt. San Jacinto making 13-of-20 and Saddleback making 16-of-23 in the final 20 minutes.
After an unusually slow start for Faines in the first half where he scored just six points and never made it to the free throw line, he managed to get to the line with regularity down the stretch, making 5-of-7 in the second half and forcing Eagle big man Dakota Downs to foul out of the game with 47 seconds remaining. Myron Green was also a workhorse in the second 20 minutes, forcing the issue with drives to the basket and getting to the free throw line. Green made 4-of-6 free throws in the second half and led Saddleback with eight rebounds on the evening.
Saddleback will play the top seed from the north on Friday, after Citrus College defeated Irvine Valley College, 71-64. The Owls will represent the south as the No. 1 seed while Saddleback will head to Ventura as the No. 2 seed.
The Gauchos improved to 27-6 with the win and head to the state tournament for an unprecedented third straight season. The Gauchos, if you remember, were the bottom seed a year ago in the state tournament before rattling off three straight wins to capture their second state title in nine years.
Mt. San Jacinto finishes the season at 22-9 after the loss. The Eagles were led by Jammall Clark with 19 points and Darren May with 15 points.
3/02/11: Orange Empire strikes back in regional semifinals
 Saddleback's 67-59 victory over Southwestern College on Wednesday night in Chula Vista evened the score with the Jaguars and propelled the Gauchos into the regional finals which will be played on Saturday night when Saddleback hosts Mt. San Jacinto at 7:00 p.m. Joining Saddleback in the regional finals is Orange Empire Conference rival Irvine Valley College, who defeated top-seed Mt. San Antonio College in the other SoCal regional bracket.
The Gauchos (26-6) will be trying to get back to the state tournament title game for the third consecutive year after finishing as state runners-up in 2009 and winning the state title last season. The next hurdle for the No. 7 seed Gauchos will be the No. 11 seed Eagles of Mt. San Jacinto College (21-8).
Saddleback built a quick double-digit lead over Southwestern as the Jaguars had trouble connecting from the outside against Saddleback's solid pressure defense. The Gauchos were able to work the ball inside in the first half, added key outside shooting in the second half, and iced the game at the foul line down the stretch while Southwestern struggled at the foul line.
The regional semifinal victory over the No. 2 seed Jaguars more than made up for an early season loss in which the Gauchos led by seven at the intermission but let the lead slip away after center Wendell Faines fouled out. That wouldn't be the case tonight as Faines had two fouls in the first half, picked up his third in the opening seconds of the second half, but then played most of the second half with four fouls. Point guard Vonchae Richardson also played most of the second half with four fouls before fouling out with just :03 to play in the game.
Mt. San Jacinto College heads into the regional finals after defeating Los Angeles Harbor College, 66-63, in the other regional semifinal game at San Jacinto. The two programs did not meet in 2010-11, and the last time they played was last season with Saddleback defeating Mt. San Jacinto in the consolation finals of the Wells Fargo Classic (68-61) on December 12, 2009.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM with the winner headed to the state tournament next Friday in Ventura, California. The game is also scheduled to be broadcast on Saddleback's own 88.5 FM, KSBR Radio.
Other winners on Wednesday night included crosstown rival Irvine Valley College knocking off No. 1 seed Mt. San Antonio College, 57-55. They will face Citrus College on Saturday night after the Owls downed Chaffey College, 72-62.
2/27/11: Men’s basketball to travel to Southwestern for regional semifinals
The Saddleback men’s basketball team will travel to Southwestern College on Wednesday night to take on the Jaguars in the regional semifinals after Southwestern defeated Los Angeles Southwest College, 76-72, on Saturday night. If the Gauchos were to win on Wednesday, they would now host the regional finals next Saturday after No. 3 seed Santa Monica College was upset by Los Angeles Harbor College, 71-66, in other regional playoff action.
Saddleback (25-6) and Southwestern (24-2) met back in December, with the Jaguars defeating the Gauchos 71-66. In that game, Saddleback big man Wendell Faines fouled out of the game as the Gauchos led by seven points at halftime but was unable to hold on for the win.
Game time is set for 7:00 PM in Chula Vista, with the Gauchos playing for the right to host the regional finals next Saturday. Saddleback was expected to be on the road for the remainder of the playoffs but with unexpected losses by Riverside College and Santa Monica College over the weekend, the Gauchos would now be the top seed in the bracket if they are able to beat the Jaguars. Los Angeles Harbor College (16-10) will meet Mt. San Jacinto College (20-8) in the other regional semifinal.
2/25/11: Gauchos go Green in playoff opener
The Saddleback men’s basketball team made a statement in game one of the playoffs on Friday night with a 75-52 win over Barstow College at the Saddleback Gymnasium. Myron Green scored 18 points as the Gauchos advanced to the third round of the playoffs to meet either Southwestern College or Los Angeles Southwest College next Wednesday night.
Saddleback came out with a purpose in both halves, leading 9-0 to open the game and then making a 14-2 run to open the second half. The Gauchos frustrated the Vikings with a tenacious defense, forcing the Vikings into eight first half turnovers and 19 for the game. On the other end, Saddleback blazed the nets all night long on offense, shooting 48% for the game and 52% in the first half.
Myron Green looked like the player that won two straight tournament MVP awards early in the season before disappearing at times during the second half of the season. Green finished 5-for-10 from the field, making good on 8-of-10 free throws as Barstow had no matchup for the 6-foot-4 bounceback from Ball State.
Green was joined by Johnel Gray, who easily had his best performance in quite some time. Gray burned the Vikings from downtown, making good on 3-of-6 from 3-point range and finishing with 14 points on the night. Terrell Mack and Wendell Faines joined Gray with 14 points apiece, as Saddleback made 15-of-20 free throws in the second half of play.
Saddleback improved to 25-6 on the season with the win and will wait until late Saturday night to find out what lies ahead. The Gauchos will play next on Wednesday night, either at home or on the road at Southwestern College. Southwestern plays at home tomorrow night, and with a win would host the game at 7:00 PM. A loss by Southwestern would have Saddleback hosting the game on Wednesday night.
Barstow fell to 22-7 with the loss. The Vikings were led by Lavanne Pennington with 24 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
2/22/11: Breaking down the Road to the Final Four
The Saddleback men’s basketball team will start its state title defense on Friday evening when they host Barstow College at 7:00 PM. The Gauchos are in a bracket with four divisional champions, making for a difficult road as they attempt to head to the state tournament for the third straight season.
First up is a difficult test for Saddleback (24-6) as they will face a Barstow (22-6) program that played for a piece of the Foothill Conference title on the final night of the season before falling to Chaffey College, 68-60. All six losses on the season for the Vikings came against teams that qualified for the Southern California playoffs and they feature a trio of players all averaging double-digits in scoring. The guard combination of LaVanne Pennington and Jeffrey Legree combined to score 31.6 points-per-game in 2010-11 and forward Daquan Brown averaged 12 points of his own. Barstow averaged 79.3 points-per-game and 44 rebounds, making them a difficult challenge to open up the tournament.
“They are a very talented team and will be a tough challenge,” head coach Andy Ground said. “If we get caught looking past them, we will be out of the tournament early.”
Along with Barstow, four other divisional winners are in the Gaucho bracket as Pacific Coast Conference champion Southwestern (2 seed), Western States South Conference champion Santa Monica (3 seed), Orange Empire Conference champion Riverside (6 seed) and South Coast South Conference champion Los Angeles Harbor (16 seed) all stand in the way of Saddleback making it to an unprecedented third straight state tournament.
Southwestern (23-2) is the top seed in the bracket and the No. 2 seed in Southern California. They will play on Saturday against the winner of Compton (16-10) and Los Angeles Southwest (16-12), who play on Wednesday night. The Jaguars ran away with the Pacific Coast Conference title, scoring 85 or more points on seven occasions. Sophomore guards Anthony Cosentino and LaMarquis Letchaw combined for over 32 points-per-game as Southwestern finished No. 13 in the state in scoring (80.5). The Jaguars defeated Saddleback 71-66 on December 4 in the Grossmont College Tournament when Letchaw scored 26 points as Southwestern outscored Saddleback by 12 in the second half, with Gaucho big man Wendell Faines fouling out of the game.
 Santa Monica (20-7) enters the tournament as the second seed in the bracket and the No. 3 overall seed in the south after winning the Western States South Division. The Corsairs will open up on Saturday against the winner of Los Angeles Harbor and Allan Hancock, who play on Wednesday. Santa Monica can score in bunches and finished fifth in the state in scoring (86.6), topping the century mark five times on the season. Five different players finished in double-digits in scoring for the Corsairs, led by the guard trio of Everett Brown (13.9), AJ Harris (13.5) and Lee Lark (13.5). In addition, big man Deshawn Stephens has been dominating on the boards, averaging 8.8 rebounds-per-game. Santa Monica and Saddleback did not meet during the regular season, but the Corsairs did play cross-town rival Irvine Valley College, falling to the Lasers 91-76 on November 20 in the finals of the Irvine Valley Classic.
 Riverside (19-9) nabbed the third seed in the bracket and the No. 6 overall seed down south after winning the Orange Empire Conference title. The Tigers will open on Friday night against Mt. San Jacinto (19-8), a team they lost to (75-68) on December 5 in the third place game of the Antelope Valley Tournament. Riverside battled back from a 6-8 start to the season by winning 13-of-15 down the stretch, led by a balanced attack and solid defense. The Tigers led the OEC with 39 rebounds-per-game, with sophomore guards Shawn Sawyer (10.4) and Andrew Fisk (9.1) guiding the ship on offense. Saddleback and Riverside met twice this season, with the Gauchos winning 65-61 on January 5 and Riverside winning 69-62 on January 28.
Friday night’s game between Saddleback and Barstow is scheduled to be broadcast on KSBR Radio, 88.5 FM, live internet radio. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM, with ticket prices of $8.00 general admission and $5.00 for identified students, faculty, staff, senior citizens age 60 and over, and children less than 12 years of age.
To view the entire Southern California bracket, click on the following link. SoCal Playoffs
Inside the Numbers: (The Southwestern Bracket)
Offensive Scoring
Compton 88.2
Santa Monica 86.6
Mt. San Jacinto 82.0
Southwestern 80.1
Barstow 79.3
LA Southwest 79.1
Allan Hancock 76.8
Saddleback 73.7
Riverside 70.2
LA Harbor 68.0
Defensive Scoring
Saddleback 58.8
Riverside 62.3
LA Harbor 65.4
Southwestern 67.6
Barstow 73.2
Allan Hancock 74.0
Mt. San Jacinto 75.6
Santa Monica 75.8
LA Southwest 77.8
Compton 87.4
Point Differential (+-)
Saddleback +14.9
Southwestern +12.5
Santa Monica +10.8
Riverside +7.9
Mt. San Jacinto +6.4
Barstow +6.1
Allan Hancock +2.8
LA Harbor +2.6
LA Southwest +1.3
Compton +0.8
2/21/11: Men's Basketball to host Barstow in regional playoffs
 The Saddleback men's basketball team received the No. 7 seed into the Southern California Regional playoffs and will host No. 10 Barstow College on Friday, February 25, starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Saddleback campus gym.
Neither team will have to play in the first-round play-in games on February 23 that is reserved for seeds 13-20. The Gauchos (24-6) are the defending state champions and the 2009 state runners-up and will host a Barstow team (22-6) that
finished third in the Foothill Conference behind Chaffey and San Bernardino Valley colleges, but which had the best overall record in the Foothill Conference. Saddleback placed second in the Orange Empire Conference behind Riverside but had the best overall record in the Orange Empire Conference.
The winner of Friday's game will advance to the third round on Wednesday, March 2, to play the winner of No. 2 Southwestern (23-2) and either Compton (16-10) or L.A. Southwest (16-12). Saddleback fell to Southwestern earlier this year by a 71-66 count.
2/17/11: Gauchos set record and make statement in regular season finale
The Saddleback men’s basketball team made a loud noise to finish the regular season when they hammered crosstown rival Irvine Valley College on Wednesday night, 65-46. The Gauchos are hoping the noise will be loud enough when the coaches meet next Monday to seed the teams for the upcoming Southern California playoffs.
Saddleback set a program record in the first half of play when they allowed the Lasers just 10 points in grabbing a 32-10 lead at the break. The Gaucho record for least points allowed in a half had stood since the 1978-79 season when they held Southwestern 12 points in a half in a 95-38 win. Irvine Valley was held scoreless for the first 5:43 of the first half before Joe Eberhard nailed a 3-pointer to get the Lasers on the scoreboard. The Lasers would then suffer yet a worse scoring drought to finish the half, failing to score over the final 7:14 of the half.
Saddleback came out blazing from the 3-point line, making 5-of-10 for the night as Marquis Green hit on 4-of-6 to lead the Gauchos with 14 points for the game. Prince Obasi and Wendell Faines both finished with 12 points apiece, with Obasi leading Saddleback with 10 rebounds and six assists in clearly his most impressive performance of the season.
On defense, the Gauchos were as good as it could get. Saddleback not only set the record (previously mentioned) but held the Lasers to 15% shooting in the first 20 minutes. IVC made just 1-of-12 from 3-point range before the intermission as the Gauchos’ suffocating defense kept the Lasers’ outside sharpshooters in check. IVC would finish the game shooting just 30% from the field and 20% from 3-point range.
Saddleback finished the regular season at 24-6 overall and 9-3 in Orange Empire Conference play. They currently sit in second place in conference play, one-half game behind Riverside College in the conference standing and one-half game ahead of Irvine Valley. Riverside finishes the regular season at home against Orange Coast College on Friday night while Irvine Valley finishes the season at home against Cypress College. A win by Riverside would give the Tigers the conference title, with Saddleback finishing no worse than a tie for second with Irvine Valley. A loss by Riverside, coupled with an IVC win, would create a 3-way tie for the conference title. A loss by both Riverside and Irvine Valley would find Saddleback as co-champions along with Riverside, with IVC finishing in third place.
The playoff seeding committee is scheduled to meet on Monday at 9:00 AM, with a set of criteria that is anything but fluid or concrete. The Gauchos are expected to be a top-6 seed for the upcoming playoffs, but could end up anywhere from No. 1 to No. 13, depending on how the bylaws are interpreted. If seeded in the top-4, Saddleback would play next Saturday evening at home. If seeded between No. 5 and No. 12, the Gauchos would play next Friday night. If seeded between No. 5 and No. 8, they would play at home.
Follow the athletics web site for updates on Monday.
2/11/11: Gauchos get needed victory at Santa Ana
Sophomores Wendell Faines and Terrell Mack each scored 14 points in leading the Saddleback men's basketball team to a 67-48 win over the Santa Ana College Dons on Friday in Santa Ana, keeping the Gauchos' hopes alive for a conference title.
Saddleback built a 12-point lead in the first half but the Dons cut that lead in half early in the second half before the Gauchos were able to pull away for the win. Prince Obasi grabbed nine rebounds to lead Saddleback with Faines and Myron Green each snagging seven rebounds. Faines added four blocked shots.
Saddleback (23-6, 8-3 in conference) was one game behind both Irvine Valley and Riverside in the Orange Empire Conference standings. The Gauchos are at Irvine Valley on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the final game of the regular season for Saddleback (who have a bye next Friday).
2/9/11: Men’s basketball pulls away from Orange Coast
 The Saddleback men’s basketball team has struggled in recent weeks and for the first 20 minutes on Wednesday night against Orange Coast College the struggles continued. The Gauchos, however, found a bit of mojo in the second half of play, wearing down the Pirates, 77-60.
Saddleback once again struggled with turnovers in the first 20 minutes of play. Despite leading in rebounds 22-10 at the break, the Gauchos turned the ball over nine times and carried a narrow 30-28 lead into the locker room.
Saddleback came out with some intensity in the second half on defense and a plan to take advantage of a big size advantage inside. Sophomore power forward Wendell Faines scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the second half while the Gauchos continued to dominate on the glass. Faines led Saddleback with 13 rebounds on the night as the Gauchos held a 42-22 advantage on the boards.
As a result of a lot of easy baskets inside, Saddleback shot 58% in the second half as Myron Green (12), Vonchae Richardson (10) and Terrell Mack (11) all finished in double figures.
Saddleback improved to 22-6 overall on the season and now stand at 7-3 in Orange Empire Conference play with the win. Orange Coast fell to 5-19 overall and 1-8 in OEC play with the loss.
The Gauchos will play again this Friday at Santa Ana College. Tipoff is set for 5:30 PM.
2/4/11: Gauchos buzzed by Fullerton at home
 The Saddleback men’s basketball team started out cold and never got on track in falling at home to Fullerton College, 66-61, on Friday night. The Gauchos scored just two points in the first 8-plus minutes of the game, allowing Fullerton to pull off the upset.
Saddleback was sloppy during the first half, committing nine turnovers while shooting only 36% from the field. The Gauchos heated up a bit over the final 30 minutes, but couldn’t match baskets with the Hornets down the stretch.
Saddleback didn’t take a lead until the 7:40 mark of the second half, when Wendell Faines hit two free throws to put the Gauchos ahead, 47-46. Faines would go on to have one his quietest games of the season, making just 2-of-4 shots from the field in scoring 10 points before fouling with 5:49 left in the game.
While Saddleback was suffering threw spells of cold shooting, they also didn’t catch a lot of breaks with the officials, getting called for 27 fouls, three of which were technicals. Fullerton capitalized from the charity stripe, making good on 22-of-30 free throws in picking up the win.
Ramez Michail led the Hornets with 18 points and seven rebounds, making good on 10-of-12 free throws. Myron Green (pictured) led the Gauchos with 13 points and six rebounds.
Saddleback falls to 21-6 overall and 6-3 in Orange Empire Conference with the loss. The Gauchos will play again at home on Wednesday against Orange Coast College. Tip-off is set for 5:30 PM.
1/21/11:
Gauchos go cold in falling to IVC
The Saddleback men’s basketball team was riding a seven game winning streak entering Friday night’s showdown against Irvine Valley College at the Saddleback Gymnasium. The Gauchos, however, suffered one of their worst shooting nights of the year, falling to their inter-district rival, 69-58.
In what was supposed to be a showdown between two of the top teams in Southern California, Saddleback looked a bit off its game all night long. The Gauchos missed as many as 10 layups and failed to score a basket for the final 6:36 of the first half, watching a narrow lead turn into a 14-point deficit at the intermission.
While Saddleback was missing easy baskets, Ramon Mejia was draining 3-pointers for Irvine Valley. Mejia was 4-for-4 in the first half as IVC made good on 7-of-13 from beyond the arc throughout the first 20 minutes. The Gauchos, conversely, shot just 30% from the field in the first half, missing all three attempts from 3-point range. Mejia finished 5-of-7 from 3-point range and 19 points while sophomore forward Travis Fulton led the Lasers with 21 points
Despite the shooting woes as a team, sophomore Wendell Faines had another solid night for Saddleback, finishing with 21 points and eight rebounds in the losing effort. Faines was 8-of-12 from the field, but the rest of the team finished just 13-of-48, or 27% from the field.
Saddleback fell to 20-4 overall and 5-1 in Orange Empire Conference play with the loss. Irvine Valley improved to 18-3 overall and took over first place in conference play, improving to 5-0 in the OEC.
Saddleback will play again next Friday night at Riverside at 5:30 PM. The game will be played at JW North High School, due to renovation of the RCC gymnasium.
1/19/11: Gauchos cruise past Santa Ana
The Saddleback men’s basketball team was looking for its 20th win of the season at home on Wednesday night and the crowd didn’t have to wait long for the result. The Gauchos sprinted out to a 22-point halftime lead in cruising to a 92-53 win over Santa Ana at the Saddleback Gymnasium.
Wendell Faines finished with 19 points and nine rebounds as Saddleback had it on cruise control for the last 30 minutes of the game. The Gauchos held a 51-31 advantage in rebounds, as Prince Obasi joined Faines with nine rebounds for the game.
Saddleback got lethargic to start the second half of the game and saw its lead dwindle to 18 points with under eight minutes remaining in the game. The Gauchos, however, caught fire as the bench provided a spark with a number of 3-points baskets. Mason Jones and Donovan Poole connected on four from beyond the arc, as Saddleback was 5-for-12 from 3-point range in the second 20 minutes.
David Swartz led Santa Ana with 10 points and four rebounds, but the Dons had a difficult time shooting the ball all night. Santa Ana connected on just 2-of-14 from beyond the arc, shooting only 35% from the field for the entire game.
Saddleback improved to 20-3 on the season with the win and 5-0 in Orange Empire Conference play. The Gauchos have now won seven straight games, with the last loss coming against Fresno City College in the Allan Hancock Tournament on December 28.
Santa Ana continued its disappointing season, falling to 2-14 overall and 0-4 in OEC play with the loss.
1/14/11: Men's Basketball sinks Pirates
Sophomore center Wendell Faines had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Gauchos (19-3, 4-0 in conference) past the Orange Coast College Pirates, 94-54, Friday night in the Pirates' gym.
The Gauchos jumped out to a 42-22 lead at the intermission and outscored Orange Coast 52-32 in the second half to post the 40-point margin of victory. Sophomore guard Terrell Mack added 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field.
Saddleback returns home next week to host Santa Ana College on Wednesday, January 19, and then entertains Irvine Valley College on Friday, January 21, in the President's Cup.
1/7/11: Gauchos start fast on way to win
 The Saddleback men’s basketball team put on a clinic in the first half, darting out to a 23-2 lead in cruising to an 89-66 win over Cypress College on Friday night at Saddleback Gymnasium. Wendell Faines led the Gauchos with 20 points as Saddleback improved to 17-3 on the season with the win.
Saddleback’s defense was dominant throughout the majority of the first half as Cypress didn’t connect on a field goal until the 10:57 mark of the first half. The Gauchos led 26-4 when Marquise Washington hit from the corner to break the scoring drought for the Chargers.
Faines played only 25 minutes but made the best of it, connecting on 8-of-15 shots from the field and leading the team with 11 rebounds. Terrell Mack came off the bench to score 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting as Saddleback suffered through some lethargy in the second half, rotating all 13 players into the game over the final 20 minutes.
Saddleback improved to 17-3 overall on the season with the win and 2-0 in Orange Empire Conference play. The Gauchos will travel to Fullerton College on Wednesday night to take on the Hornets. Game time is set for 7:30 PM.
Cypress fell to 10-6 overall and 0-1 in OEC play with the loss.
1/5/11:
Gauchos survive a scare in OEC opener
The Saddleback men’s basketball team looked like a team that hadn’t played in nearly a week but persevered for a 65-61 win over arch rival Riverside College on Wednesday night at Saddleback Gymnasium. The Gauchos trailed for most of the game before taking the lead with 5:25 remaining and holding on for the win.
Saddleback and Riverside have captured the past two state titles so it would only stand to reason that the game would be heated throughout. It reached a fever pitch when Riverside coach John Smith was whistled for a technical foul with 5:02 remaining in the game. That was just 23 seconds after Saddleback took the lead for the first time in over a half, and the Gauchos would never relinquish the lead the rest of the way.
Riverside had its chances on a night when Saddleback was clearly not at its best. The Tigers, however, couldn’t find the bottom of the basket as Riverside missed bevy of free throws, finishing just 6-of-17 from the charity stripe in the second half and 8-for-21 for the night. The Tigers also struggled from the field against the suffocating Saddleback defense, shooting just 33% from the field in the second half and 40% for the game.
Saddleback used a balanced attack on offense on a night when leading scorer Myron Green was not on his game. Wendell Faines led the Gauchos with 14 points after getting into foul trouble early in the second half. Faines picked up his third and fourth fouls in the first 14 seconds of the second half, and sat out nearly 10 minutes before returning to the game. Terrell Mack finished with 11 points on the evening while Green struggled through and unusually cold-shooting evening to finish with 10.
Riverside sophomore Davie Champagnie led all scorers in the game with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting. The Tigers fell to 9-9 on the season with the loss and will play at home against Santa Ana College on Friday.
Saddleback improved to 16-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play with the win. The Gauchos will host Cypress College on Friday evening at 7:30 PM.
12/30/10: Gauchos win consolation title at Hancock Tourney
The opening game of the Bulldog Classic may have been the best game of the tournament.
Saddleback (15-3) opened the tournament against state nemesis Fresno City College.
After falling to the Rams in the opening round (92-77), the Saddleback men's basketball team bounced back to beat Butte (65-54) and Santa Barbara City (79-53) to take the consolation title in the Allan Hancock Tournament this week as the final tune-up before Orange Empire Conference play begins on Wednesday, January 5.
Fresno (15-2) went on to win the tournament title easily with wins over Cuesta (84-58) and Bakersfield (103-53).
Saddleback will open OEC play at home against Riverside on Wednesday with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
12/21/10: Faines gives Gauchos an early present
The Saddleback men’s basketball team is fresh off winning two straight tournaments over a two-week period but had a little cleanup work to do before heading home for the holidays. Wendell Faines led the Gaucho attack with a double-double as Saddleback cruised to an 80-44 win over El Camino College on Tuesday evening at the Saddleback Gymnasium.
Faines finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds as El Camino had no answer for the big man inside. He finished 7-of-10 from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.
The Gaucho attack was lethargic through much of the first half but blew the game open late, finishing on a 21-0 run over the last 5:40 of the game. The crowd went wild as reserves Mason Jones and Philippe Zarif both nailed down 3-pointers in the final moments of the game, putting a stamp on things before the holidays.
Myron Green finished with 18 points while Taylor Cunningham added 11 as Saddleback shot 60% in the second half after shooting just 33% in the first 20 minutes. The Gaucho defense was impressive all night, holding the Warriors to just 28% shooting on the night while turning the ball over 24 times.
Saddleback improved to 13-2 on the season and will have a week of before heading to the Allan Hancock College Tournament a week from today. The Gauchos will open Orange Empire Conference play on January 5 at home against Riverside College.
The win extends the winning streak for Saddleback to nine games. It is the longest winning streak for the program since winning 10 straight games last season from November 21 through December 18.
Saddleback opens the Allan Hancock Tournament against Fresno City College, a perennial power in Northern California. The Gauchos opened the week at No. 3 in the state rankings while Fresno City entered the week at No. 6. Game time is scheduled for 3:00 PM for those looking to make the road trip to Santa Maria.
12/18/10: Gauchos cruise past Lasers in Brummel Classic finals
The finals of the Bill Brummel Classic was supposed to be a battle between highly-ranked inter-district powers and a potential preview of big things to come in Orange Empire Conference play, which starts next month. It turned out to be a one-sided affair as Saddleback rolled to a 74-58 win for its second straight tournament championship in as many weeks.
Myron Green (left) scored 18 points as the Gauchos heated up from the field after a cold shooting night on Friday night in the semifinals. Saddleback sprinted out to a 35-20 halftime lead on the strength of 5-for-10 shooting from 3-point range. The Gaucho defense was suffocating at times, holding Irvine Valley to just 26% shooting in the first half and 39% for the game.
 Green picked up the tournament MVP honors after scoring 42 points on 16-for-30 shooting over the 3-day stretch. It was Green’s second straight tournament MVP after leading Saddleback to a tournament championship in Modesto last weekend.
Joining Green on the all-tournament team was power forward Wendell Faines (right). The 6-foot-9 sophomore led the Gauchos on defense, blocking seven shots over the three-day stretch while scoring 36 points of his own. Faines also led Saddleback with 22 rebounds in the three games.
Saddleback improved to 12-2 on the season with the three wins and will host El Camino College on Tuesday evening at 5:00 PM in its final tune-up for the conference season. Irvine Valley fell to 12-3 on the season with the loss. Joe Eberhard and Travis Fulton were both selected to the all-tournament team for the Lasers.
Final Bracket results
12/17/10: Gauchos survive cold shooting night
 The Saddleback men’s basketball team survived a scare from San Bernadino Valley College on Friday night with a 61-55 win in the semifinals of the Brummel Classic at Saddleback Gymnasium. The Gauchos will face inter-district rival Irvine Valley College in the finals on Saturday after the Lasers defeated Mt. San Antonio College, 81-71, in the other semifinal.
Saddleback and San Bernadino both settled in defensively, forcing the opponent into difficult shots for the majority of the game. The Gauchos finished shooting 42% from the field while San Bernadino shot just 36% in a game where the officials called 50 fouls between the two teams.
Myron Green and Prince Obasi (pictured) both finished with 12 points for Saddleback while Marquis Green added 11. Keon Pledger was a one-man wrecking crew for the Wolverines, leading the way with 20 points for San Bernadino.
Irvine Valley advanced to the finals with an impressive performance in a 10-point win over the previous top-rated team in the state, Mt. San Antonio. Joe Eberhard led the Lasers with 26 points, finishing 10-for-11 from the field as Irvine Valley improved 12-2.
Saddleback and Irvine Valley will play in the championship game tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 PM. San Bernadino Valley will play Mt. San Antonio College in the third place game at 2:00 PM while Los Angeles Trade Tech will face Long Beach City College in the consolation title game at 12:00 PM.
Friday Scores:
Long Beach City 96, Cypress 79
Los Angeles Trade Tech 89, College of the Desert 74
Irvine Valley 81, Mt. San Antonio 71
Saddleback 61, San Bernadino Valley 55
Updated Bracket
12/16/10: Gauchos win tournament opener over Desert
Sophomore center Wendell Faines scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Gauchos (10-2) defeated College of the Desert (1-9) in the opening round of the Bill Brummel Classic men's basketball tournament hosted by Saddleback on Thursday evening. The Gauchos advance to the semifinal round where they will face San Bernardino Valley College, a 61-55 winner over Los Angeles Trade-Tech.
Myron Green added 12 points and seven rebounds as 11 Gauchos scored. Saddleback started slowly against a pesky Roadrunner squad but went on a 14-4 run midway through the first half to break open a 13-13 tie. Desert closed the deficit to just five points at halftime (27-22) and to just four points early in the second half before the Gauchos started converting rebounds into fast-break baskets. Saddleback outrebounded Desert 46-26 and scored 46 points inside the key compared to Desert's 22 points inside.
In other first-round games, Travis Fulton had 24 points and 11 rebounds to lead defending tournament champion Irvine Valley to an 85-78 victory over Long Beach City College and Kaimyn Pruitt had 15 points and 17 rebounds to lead Mt. San Antonio to an 84-76 win over Cypress. Antonio Biglow added 22 points for the Mounties.
First Round results:
Irvine Valley 85, Long Beach City 78
Mt. San Antonio 84, Cypress 76
San Bernardino Valley 61, L.A. Trade-Tech 55
Saddleback 67, College of the Desert 46
Bracket updated
12/15/10: Tough field expected for Brummel Classic
The annual Bill Brummel Classic kicks into high gear on Thursday and the field for this year’s tournament is tougher than ever. Saddleback opens up against College of the Desert in the tournament that features five of the top 14 teams from Southern California.
Saddleback will open the tournament on Thursday evening against Desert at 7:00 PM. The Gauchos defeated the Roadrunners 71-46 in the third place game of the Grossmont Tournament on December 5. Saddleback has won five straight games to move up to No. 4 in the Southern California rankings after winning the championship of the Modesto junior College Tournament on Saturday. Saddleback had a number of stars over the weekend, but Myron Green (left) had the biggest weekend of them all as he was named the tournament MVP. Marquis Green (right) was also razor sharp for the majority of the weekend, including knocking down six straight 3-pointers in the first half of the finals on Saturday.
The opening game of the day features inter-district rival Irvine Valley College against Long Beach City College at 1:00 PM. The Lasers are 10-2 on the season and rated No. 8 in Southern California after winning their last eight games. Long Beach is unrated but still above .500 for the season at 4-3, including an opening-day 65-63 win over Irvine Valley on November 18.
 One of the more intriguing early games features Mt. San Antonio College against Orange Empire Conference foe Cypress College at 3:00 PM. The Mounties from Mt. SAC opened the season with nine straight wins and were rated No. 1 in the state before dropping two games to Ventura College and Riverside College last weekend in the Wells Fargo Classic. Mt. San Antonio remains at No. 3 in the Southern California rankings and defeated Saddleback in a nail-biter earlier in the season (72-69) in the semifinals of the Fullerton Tournament. Cypress comes into the tournament at 7-4 on the season and unrated, but recently made it all the way to the finals of the Santa Barbara City College Tournament before falling to Oxnard, 91-84.
Game three features two top-15 teams from Southern California as No. 14 San Bernadino Valley College faces No. 9 Los Angeles Trade Tech at 5:00 PM. San Bernadino Valley is under .500 at 3-5 on the season, but all five losses have come against teams rated in the top-11 in the state, and only one of them was by more than five points. The Wolverines handed Trade Tech a loss in the opening round of the Wells Fargo tournament last weekend and the two programs will once again face one another in the opener of the Brummel Classic this weekend. For Trade Tech, they started the season 5-1 before dropping three straight games, but bounced back nicely following the loss to San Bernadino Valley to capture the consolation championship in the Wells Fargo Tournament with a nice win over Riverside College on Saturday.
When looking at the total RPI rankings of teams in the tournament, Mt. San Antonio has the top Ratings Percentage Index in the state of California on the season. Saddleback is No. 7 in the RPI while Irvine Valley is No. 10, Long Beach City is No. 21, San Bernadino Valley is No. 23, Los Angeles Trade Tech is No. 24, Cypress is No. 53 and Desert is No. 64. Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) is a quantity used to rank sports teams based upon a team's wins and losses and its strength of schedule.
To see the entire tournament bracket, click here. Brummel Brackets
12/12/10:
Gauchos steal the show in Modesto
The Saddleback men’s basketball team put on a dominating performance in the finals of the 73rd Annual Modesto Junior College Basketball Tournament, defeating Yuba College, 85-71. Myron Green (left) scored 26 points in being named the Tournament MVP.
Saddleback looked like a dominating force up north for four straight days, beating some of the best competition the northern half of the state has to offer. The Gauchos blasted the competition the final three days, including an 85-37 blowout of Columbia College in the semifinals on Friday.
Both the Green’s, Myron and Marquis Green (right), were named to the All-Tournament Team as Saddleback put on a clinic on Saturday in winning the tournament with style points. Marquis hit six three-pointers in the first half as Saddleback went 8-for-9 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes in grabbing a 47-27 lead at the intermission. At one point, Saddleback outscored Yuba 40-14 over a 10-minute span.
“The guys played very well,” Head Coach Andy Ground said. “It was very encouraging heading into the Brummel Classic this weekend.”
Saddleback improved to 9-2 on the season with the four wins up north, and will play on Thursday evening in the opening round of the Brummel Classic at Saddleback.
12/10/10: Basketball advances to semis in MJC Tournament
 The Saddleback men’s basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the 73rd annual Modesto Junior College Basketball Tournament on Thursday with a 66-51 win over Los Medanos College. Wendell Faines led the Gauchos with 15 points and Saddleback will face Columbia College at 6:00 PM on Friday night.
Faines (pictured left) had a solid night after running into foul trouble the night before against Chabot College. His 15 points led a Gaucho attack that took a sizeable lead from the outset. Prince Obasi added 13 points while Myron Green scored 11 as Saddleback held a 37-23 halftime leading in cruising to the win. The Gauchos led by as many as 20 points in the second half and spent most of the final 20 minutes of the game up by 15-20 points.
Saddleback (7-2) will face Columbia College (6-5) in the semifinals after the Claim Jumpers defeated College of the Siskiyous on Thursday, 64-61. The other semifinal will feature Yuba College (8-3) against Modesto Junior College (5-4) at 8:00 PM.
12/9/10:
Gauchos shock Chabot in MJC opener
 The Saddleback basketball team was up to its old tricks on Wednesday at the 73rd annual Modesto Junior College Basketball Tournament, winning in double overtime, 85-84. Saddleback trailed by three points with 3.4 seconds remaining in the first overtime when Donovan Poole (left) knocked down a 35-footer off the glass to send the game to a second overtime.
Poole took the inbounds pass and took four dribbles before launching a desperation shot at the buzzer. It glanced off the glass and in the basket to tie the score as the Gauchos survived an early-round scare against the No. 4 rated team up North.
Saddleback will face Los Medanos College on Thursday at 5:00 PM in the tournament quarterfinals. Los Medanos was a surprise 84-81 winner over Cosumnes River College, who came into the tournament as the No. 6 rated team up North. It was the first win of the season for Los Medanos, who enters tonight’s contest at 1-6 on the season.
Myron Green (right) led the Saddleback attack with 20 points while Prince Obasi scored 19 and Marquis Green 16 in the win. The Gaucho coaches praised the work of backup power forward Vincent Hatter-Rolland, who came off the bench when Wendell Faines got into early foul trouble to guard 7-foot center Kyle Luckett of Chabot.
If Saddleback wins on Thursday evening, they will face the winner of Columbia College and College of the Siskiyous, who play later in the evening, on Friday.Saddleback improved to 6-2 on the season with the win while Chabot dropped to 8-2 with the loss.
11/29/10: Faines inks pact with Idaho
 Saddleback sophomore forward Wendell Faines has signed a national letter of intent to continue his education and basketball career at the University of Idaho, according to Saddleback head coach Andy Ground.
Faines, a 6'9" returner who prepped at Northeast High School in Lincoln, Nebraska, averaged 7.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocked shots in helping Saddleback capture the California Community College state championship last season with a 29-5 record.
The Gauchos had four players measuring up at 6'9" on last year's squad with Faines having the best averages of all the big men.
10/11/10: Gauchos impressive on opening day
The Saddleback men’s basketball team came into Thursday afternoon’s season-opener with lofty expectations, ranked No. 1 in the state to start the 2010-11 campaign. Gaucho fans left the building impressed as Saddleback shot 61% from three-point-range, blowing out College of the Canyons, 98-67.
Canyons hung around for the first 10 minutes of the game, closing to within 23-22 midway through the opening frame. Saddleback then went on a 24-4 run and never looked back, opening the season in impressive fashion.
The Gauchos were lethal from long range, making 11-of-18 from downtown, led by Marquis Green (pictured left). The sophomore wing finished 5-for-7 from beyond the arc, finishing with a team-high 15 points. Power forwards Wendell Faines (pictured right) and Vincent Rolland combined for 18 rebounds as Saddleback dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Cougars 50-33 for the afternoon.
The Gauchos finished with six players in double-figures, as both Faines and Terrell Mack finished with 13 points for the day. Johnel Gray and Myron Green both finished with 11 points apiece while Mason Jones chipped in 10.
Saddleback was particularly good at finding the open man, as they finished with 25 assists on the night, led by Vonchae' Richardson with six. All but three of the 13 Gauchos on the court had at least one assist on the afternoon.
Canyons was led by Parker Dominguez, who finished with 12 points and six rebounds. The Cougars fell to 2-1 with the loss.
Saddleback now has a week off before playing in the Fullerton College Tournament next Thursday through Saturday.
10/8/10: Gauchos open season rated No. 1
The men’s basketball team received high praise this past week when they learned they will be rated No. 1 in the state by the California Coach’s Poll to open the 2010-11 season. The Gauchos open the season on Thursday with an afternoon game at 3:00 PM against College of the Canyons in the Saddleback Gymnasium.
Saddleback returns three players from last year’s team, led by 6-9 center Wendell Faines. Faines played in 31 games, making 26 starts, averaging 7.2 points and five rebounds-per-game. Other returners include Taylor Cunningham (26 games, 3.4 PPG), Johnel Gray (29 games, 5.3 PPG) and Vincent Hatter-Rolland (17 games, 1.6 PPG).
Saddleback opens the season just one point in front of City College of San Francisco, the team they defeated in the 2009-10 state title game. Mt. San Antonio College, Citrus College and Chabot College round out the top-5. Orange Empire Conference rivals Riverside College and Irvine Valley College come in at No. 9 and No. 10 respectively in the statewide poll.
The Gauchos are 58-13 over the past two seasons under third-year coach Andy Ground, appearing in the state title game in each of the last two seasons. Opening-day opponent College of the Canyons is not rated in the top-15 in the Southern California rankings after finishing 13-15 last season.
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