COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Riverside Beats Rancho Santiago in Double Overtime, 136-125

Riverside remained in a first-place tie in the Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball race, but the Tigers had to win a stunning double-overtime game at Rancho Santiago to do so.

Rancho Santiago had possibly its most determined performance of the season, but four starters fouled out and the Dons lost, 136-125.

Riverside (25-6, 11-2 in conference) outscored Rancho Santiago, 19-8, in the second overtime, going on a 9-0 run after falling behind by four in the first minute.

With one game remaining in the conference season, Riverside remains tied with Saddleback. Riverside plays host to Cypress at 7 p.m. and Saddleback plays Irvine Valley at Capistrano Valley at 8 p.m. Friday.

Rancho Santiago forced the second overtime when Matt Kordik made a 10-footer with two Riverside defenders leaning on him as time ran out. The basket tied it at 117.

But the game, which included 113 free throws, never should have reached overtime.

Rancho Santiago led by nine twice during the first half and was up, 49-48, at the break. Riverside rallied to go up by 10 with about 15 minutes left.

Rancho Santiago went to a trapping press defense with about 10 minutes left and Riverside wilted.

The Dons (19-11, 7-6) led by eight points, 101-93, with 1 minute 52 seconds left in regulation but managed to let that slip away.

The Dons had the ball and a 106-103 lead with 20 seconds left when Riverside’s Darryle Flicking missed a three-pointer. Sean Amos got the rebound and the Dons broke the Riverside press with ease.

Rancho Santiago forward Matt Kordik broke to the basket and got a pass. He tried to shoot but stumbled going up and missed with about 12 seconds left. Teammate Sean Amos got the rebound but also missed a short shot two seconds later.

There was a scramble for the ball and Riverside came up with it and got it upcourt to Flicking, who made a three-pointer with three seconds left to tie it, 106-106.

Riverside’s Raimonds Miglinieks had a career-high 39 points, including seven in overtime. He had four three-pointers, was 11 of 14 on free throws, and had 12 assists.

Flicking scored 37, including five three-pointers and eight of nine free throws.

Amos had 32 points, including 10 of 14 free throws, and 14 rebounds. He fouled out 17 seconds into the second overtime. Kordik had 28 points, including four three-pointers, but also fouled out in the second overtime.

In Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball:

Saddleback 104, Orange Coast 79--Derrick Walsh had a career-high 25 points and Tes Whitlock had 21 points for host Saddleback (21-7, 11-2).

Damion Mobley led Orange Coast (13-15, 3-10) with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Cypress 82, Fullerton 79--Matt Kenney had 26 points, including six three-pointers, and Jim Falletta had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Cypress (15-17, 6-7), which won its fourth consecutive game. Eddie Cochran had 17 points for Fullerton (22-10, 7-6) before fouling out.

Golden West 96, Irvine Valley 85--Gerald Rhoden had 38 points, including five three-pointers, and Chris Reiff had 15 points for Golden West (9-20, 2-11). Rashad Wilson had 27 points for Irvine Valley (17-14, 5-8).

In Orange Empire Conference women’s basketball:

Cypress 72, Fullerton 55--Sara Works had 33 points and 11 rebounds for Cypress (22-8, 7-4). Kikki Kubota had 20 points for Fullerton (19-13, 7-4).

Orange Coast 81, Saddleback 49--Petra Murdoch had 19 points and seven rebounds and LeAnn Kazmer had 16 points and 14 rebounds to lead Orange Coast (18-12, 6-5). Bonnie Trejo led Saddleback (7-17, 2-10) with 12 points.