Men’s Basketball: Cypress slows OCC roll

Momentum can certainly fuel a basketball team, though momentum doesn’t feed itself. And a case of squandered momentum Wednesday night figures to eat at Orange Coast College men’s players and coaches, possibly for some time to come.

The Pirates used an 11-0 run to claim a five-point lead with six seconds to go in regulation, but Cypress somehow managed to rally for a 73-72 overtime win in the Orange Empire Conference opener at OCC.

OCC (6-9), which came in on a season-best four-game winning streak that included a pair of tournament titles, had two chances in the final seconds to avoid having its roll slowed.

But the Pirates failed to make the decisive play and left a potential upset unclaimed.

“It’s a tough loss, but that’s sports,” OCC Coach Steve Spencer said. “It’s the agony and the ecstasy. We’ve had some good wins, but we’ve had some real tough losses. We just have to keep soldiering on.”

The Pirates appeared to have victory secured after a pair of free throws by freshman guard Josh Mendoza created a 62-57 cushion with 11 seconds remaining in regulation.

But the Chargers (14-3) used a Jeremy Wright three-pointer with five seconds left to keep hope alive.

After a timeout, OCC inbounded the ball from under the Cypress basket. But after hesitating and failing to call an available timeout, sophomore Jamaal Lee virtually handed the ball off to a streaking Mendoza in the lane. Mendoza, an Estancia High product heading toward the sideline, immediately encountered a double-team and the ball squirted loose, into the hands of Cypress’ Nolan Kelly, who banked in a layup with one second left to force overtime.

OCC, which led for just more than two minutes of the 45-minute contest, twice erased deficits to pull even in the final 2:10 of overtime. The Pirates then took a 72-71 lead when Lee hit a 15-foot fall-away jumper from the left wing with 36 ticks remaining.

But Cypress somehow found a layup late in the shot clock of its ensuing possession, leaving OCC eight seconds to try to counter.

But freshman Ryan Fusco’s three-point attempt from the left corner went long, and freshman Ibrahim Gerlach’s put-back attempt was blocked as the buzzer sounded.

Gerlach’s final carom was his seventh offensive rebound of the night, as OCC produced a 19-10 advantage on the offensive glass, a 52-34 rebounding advantage for the game.

But the Pirates shot 35.5% from the field (22 for 62), including six for 24 from three-point range, and their 17 turnovers were three more than they forced.

Cypress was 29 for 67 from the field (43.3%), including five for eight in overtime, to overcome its rebounding deficit, as well as an eight-for-15 performance from the foul line (53.3%).

Lee led the Pirates with 16 points and 14 rebounds to notch his 12th double-double of the season, despite missing his first seven field-goal tries and converting his initial field goal more than 24 minutes in. His four assists and three steals also led his team, though his five turnovers did as well.

Gerlach, who had been sidelined for weeks with an ankle injury, Spencer said, had 14 points and 13 rebounds. Gerlach also made six of 12 field-goal tries, making him the only starter and only the second of the nine Pirates who played, to at least break even shooting from the field.

Austin Payne made nine of 16 field-goal tries on his way to 21 points, joining three Cypress teammates who also scored in double figures. Payne, who fouled out with 3:49 left in overtime, also led the winners with 12 rebounds, while adding five steals.

Kelly finished with 12 points and nine boards.

“I told [Lee] to call timeout if he couldn’t get the ball in [at the end of regulation],” Spencer said. “But he did get the ball inbounded, to our best free-throw shooter [Mendoza, who was three for seven from three-point range Wednesday]. But [Mendoza] tried to dribble, instead of just being strong with the ball. It wasn’t how we would have wanted it to go, that’s for sure.”

OCC closed the first half on an 8-0 run to close to within 32-27, as Cypress was held scoreless the final 4:13 before intermission.

OCC opened the second half with a Fusco three-pointer, but Cypress answered with a 9-0 spurt.

With 3:42 left in regulation, the Chargers were up 57-51, before failing to convert a field goal until five seconds remained in regulation.

“It’s kind of like it has been all season, where we don’t get the big [defensive] stop,” Spencer said. “If you don’t get the big stop, you can’t win.”

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Orange Empire Conference

Cypress 73, Orange Coast 72 (OT)

Cyp – Payne 21, Fleck 13, Currenton 0, Wright 17, Kelly 12, Williams 8, Robbs 2.

3-pt. goals – Wright 3, Kelly 2, Payne 2.

Fouled out – Payne.

Technicals – None.

OCC – Lee 16, Gerlach 14, Jack 3, Mendoza 15, Fusco 7, Walker 7, Ptasznik 4, Wright 3, Emery 3.

3-pt-goals – Mendoza 3, Fusco 1, Lee 1, Emery 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

Halftime – 32-27, Cypress.

Regulation – 62-62.