Fullerton Has Had to Make Adjustments

The month of November is when community college basketball teams are supposed to get used to playing together, but at Fullerton such adjustments are being made now.

The starting lineup shift was needed when point guard Ty-Juan Berry was dismissed from the team by Coach Dieter Horton for violating team rules about two weeks ago.

Forward Ernie Burries moved to the point, where he had played in high school, and Tony Scott is starting at forward for the Hornets (18-12), who open the Southern California playoffs at 7 tonight at home against Long Beach (15-14).

Fullerton is 9-1 at home and was 7-0 there in Orange Empire Conference games. Freshman forward Brian Montonati (14.5 points game) and Sterling Rachal (14.3) lead the Hornets’ balanced offense.

Without Berry, Fullerton lost to Irvine Valley, 94-72, but beat Orange Coast, 103-89, in the final regular-season game.

“We rebounded from [Irvine Valley],” Horton said. “The kids really played well [against OCC]. We didn’t play a lick of defense but I’ll take it.”

In other men’s games Friday:

Santa Barbara (15-14) at Saddleback (19-10), 7 p.m.--Saddleback enters the playoffs having won six of seven. Michael Riggins is averaging 5.2 assists.

Cypress (14-15) at Santa Monica (22-8), 7 p.m.--Willie Allen, an all-conference sophomore guard, is averaging 16 points and Frankie Floyd, another guard, is at 14. Floyd scored a season-high 37 in a Feb. 21 loss to Irvine Valley.

In men’s games Saturday:

Glendale (14-17) at Irvine Valley (25-7), 7:30 p.m.--The Lasers already have had their most successful season, winning the conference title. Sophomore forward Daryl Todd (19.5 points, 8.6 rebounds) was selected the conference’s most valuable player. Forward Brandon Hearvey (14.8 points, 8.4 rebounds) and guard J.C. Timmons (12.4 points, 5.5 rebounds) also made the all-conference team.

Rancho Santiago (15-14) at Chaffey (24-10), 7:30 p.m.--Lohnnie Tape, a freshman forward, won the conference scoring title, averaging 21.8 points, for Rancho Santiago. He also averaged 6.2 rebounds.

In women’s games Saturday:

Grossmont (14-14) at Orange Coast (19-10), 7:30 p.m.--This is most likely the last home game for sophomore forward Dianne Pulido, the conference’s MVP. She led the conference in scoring at 20. OCC beat Grossmont, 54-42, earlier this season.

Pasadena (11-13) at Rancho Santiago (19-10), 7:30 p.m.--Coach Jack Single moved from Saddleback to Rancho Santiago and in his first year led the Dons to a second-place finish in conference after the team didn’t have enough players to finish the regular season last year. Antoinette Thompson is averaging 19 points and 14 rebounds.

San Diego Mesa (16-12) at Cypress (21-8), 7:30 p.m.--Linda Rodriguez (17 points) and Holly Pawlowski (14) lead Cypress in scoring and both made the all-conference team.