Saddleback Takes Top Honors in Men's Basketball All-OEC
Three Gauchos named First Team All-OEC with TJ Shorts being named Player of the Year and Andy Ground the Coach of the Year.
Unlike last season, when Saddleback College swept the board with their starting five taking First Team honors, the 2015-16 season proved to be a competitive one with Cypress and Fullerton Colleges making their mark. The Gauchos had three players make First Team, Fullerton had four, and Cypress two.
The number one team in the state, Saddleback, went undefeated in the OEC with an impressive 12-0 OEC record and ended the regular season with only one blemish on their overall record (27-1). They will lead the charge in the upcoming Southern California Regionals Playoffs with Fullerton (21-7) and Cypress (22-6) representing the OEC as well.
Freshman point guard Timothy "TJ" Shorts was chosen as the Orange Empire Conference "Player of the Year" leading the Gauchos to their fifth consecutive OEC title. Playing in 28 games this season, Shorts averaged 12.9 points a game, had 96 assists, and stole the ball 42 times. He led the conference in free throws made hitting 120 out of 149 (80.5%).
Saddleback Head Coach Andy Ground was selected as the conference Coach of the Year after producing another stellar team to win the OEC title.
The complete All-Conference list is below.
2015-16 All-Orange Empire Conference Team
Most Valuable Player: Timothy Shorts, 5-9 Freshman, Saddleback
Coach of the Year: Andy Ground, Saddleback
First Team
Breaon Brady, 6-8 Freshman, Saddleback
Jalen Hall, 6-0, Sophomore, Saddleback
Lyle Hexom, 6-8, Sophomore, Saddleback
Jordan Fleck, 6-4, Sophomore, Cypress
Jeremy Wright, 6-0, Sophomore, Cypress
Kenny Barnes, 6-4, Freshman, Fullerton
Julian Richardson, 6-4, Sophomore, Fullerton
Ian Fox, 6-0, Freshman, Fullerton
Blake McBride, 6-5, Sophomore, Fullerton
Jamaal Lee, 6-4, Sophomore, Orange Coast
Second Team
Brandon Fagins, 6-9, Sophomore, Saddleback
Maurice Jones, 6-4, Sophomore, Saddleback
Devonte Klines, 6-0, Freshman, Saddleback
Nolan Kelly, 6-5, Sophomore, Cypress
Austin Payne, 6-3, Sophomore, Cypress
Andy Cleaves 6-2 Freshman Riverside
Tramel Wilson, 6-3, Freshman, Riverside
Chris Lott, 6-0, Freshman, Irvine Valley
Noah Wellington, 6-3, Sophomore, Santa Ana