Orange Empire Conference basketball teams compete in state tourney this week

A capacity-plus crowd in the Hornet gym cheered Fullerton College to victory. (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone).

The Orange Empire Conference will be well-represented in the California Community College Athletic Association State basketball tournament this week at West Hills College in Lemoore.

On the men’s side, Fullerton College will enter the eight-team, three-day tournament as the South’s No. 1 seed. The Hornets are 29-1 on the season and qualified for the state tournament with a 77-74 victory over nemesis San Diego City College.

On the women’s side, Orange Coast College will play as the South’s No. 1 seed. The Pirates are 29-1 and qualified for the state tournament with a 73-58 win over OEC rival Irvine Valley.

The third OEC team in the tournament is Cypress College, which qualified with a 67-57 road victory over No. 4 seed Moorpark.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Fullerton College players celebrate 77-74 victory over San Diego City College, earning a berth in CCCAA State Tournament.

Coach Perry Webster, who has his Fullerton College basketball team in the state
tournament for third time in seven years, roots on the Hornets. Assistant Devin Ugland looks on.

Sean Newmann Jr. scored 20 points, including this shot-clock-beating 3-pointer with less than 4 minutes left.

Fullerton’s Sean Newmann Jr. and Shaquil Bender battled San Diego’s Anjay Cortez battle for a loose ball.

Fullerton’s Kobe Newton (22) and Mike Ofoeghu (24) battle San Diego’s Anjay Cortez for a loose ball.

Fullerton’s Kobe Newton wrestles the ball from San Diego’s Anjay Cortez.

Fullerton’s Sammy Fowlin tries to gather in a rebound after being fouled.

San Diego’s RJ Banks calls time out with seconds to play against the defense of Fullerton’s Kobe Newton.

Fullerton’s Shaquil Bender, who scored 12 points, goes up for a shot.

San Diego’s Al Green is defended by Fullerton’s Javon Jones and Mike Ofoegbu (24).

Fullerton’s Sammy Howlin bats away a shot by San Diego’s Al Green.

After the game, Fullerton Coach Perry Webster is greeted by his children Vincent, Luke and Olivia.

Quarterfinals for the men are Thursday, with Fullerton opening against No. 4 North seed West Valley (26-4) at 3 p.m.

Quarterfinals for the women are Friday with Orange Coast College playing No. 4 North Seed Sierra (20-11) at 3. Cypress as the South No. 4 seed, will play No. 1 North seed Butte (26-3) at 5 p.m.

Quarterfinals are Saturday for women and men, times and opponents determined by quarterfinal results. Finals are Sunday at 1 p.m. (men) and 3 p.m. (women).

The tournament has some interesting personal elements. Fullerton Coach Perry Webster has his team in the state tournament for the third time in his seven seasons. Webster holds the distinction of being the only person to win state titles as a player, assistant coach and head coach.

He was the tournament MVP on Saddleback’s 2010 state championship team and then was an assistant at Saddleback when the team captured the 2015 crown. He completed the trifecta in 2019 leading the Hornets to state title with a 75-69 win over defending champion San Francisco City College.

Cypress Coach Brittany Imaku could duplicate the player-head coach accomplishment with a tourney win. She was the tournament MVP in 2005 when the Chargers earned a state crown with legendary coach Margaret Mohr.

Mohr stepped away from the head position this year, staying with the team as an assistant, and was replaced by Imaku.

To see the women’s bracket, click here

To see the men’s bracket, click here

—Courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone