Fullerton Looks to Defend OEC Title Against Loaded Field

It is shaping up to be another competitive men's basketball season in the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) as all but three squads enter into conference play with a winning record.

Four teams are currently ranked in the top-30 according to the 3C Men's Basketball Coaches Association (3CMBCA) with the defending 3C2A State Champion Fullerton College Hornets leading the way.

The Hornets, who are ranked third in the state, have started the season on a 9-3 note. After kicking off the season on a two-game winning streak, the Hornets fell to top-ranked West Valley by one point. They went on to win five of their last six and are currently riding a two-game winning streak entering their conference opener against Golden West on Tuesday.

Freshman Christian Watson leads the Hornets with 13.9 points-per-game which features 10 double-digit showings on the season. He bagged a season-high 20 points in a win over Santa Monica in mid-November. Sophomore Jeremiah Davis follows with 12.9 points-per-game, while sophomore Jaden Byers carts a 10.6 points-per-game clip.

Saddleback (7-5) is currently ranked 21^st overall despite having a recorded just two games over .500. Sophomore duo James Burries and John McFadden lead the offense. Burries, who ranks tied for second in the conference in scoring, has earned a 19.5 points-per-game mark highlighted by six games with 20 or more points. His best outing came in a 10-point win over East LA where he knocked down a career-high 33 points. McFadden has surpassed the 20-point mark four times after starting with a 32-point explosion in the team's season opener.

Santiago Canyon (9-3) is ranked 24^th overall and is led by the scoring-at-will point guard in the form of sophomore Kai Smith. He is one of four players to average double-digits highlighted by a 17.9 clip that ranks fifth in the conference. He scored double-digits in seven of the first eight games emphasized by a 33-point total in a win over MiraCosta. Sophomore Damien Parker completes the backcourt with a 14.7 points-per-game mark, while freshman duo Toney Colley and Eli Arthurton carry just over an 11 points-per-game clip.

Irvine Valley (8-3) is ranked 29^th overall after starting off the season on a four-game winning streak. They only average 62.3 points-per-game as a team, but hold their opponents to under 59 points-per-game. Leading the way is sophomore Jesse Stines with 12.5 points-per-game, backed by sophomore Luke Farrington at 10.3 points-per-game.  

Orange Coast (6-4) has suffered a rocky start after failing to win more than two games in a row, but still sits above the Mendoza line by two games. They are led by sophomore Sam Hunter who averages just shy of 20 points-per-game ranking him tied for second in the conference. He has landed in double-digits in every game this season highlighted by a 32 point showing in their season opening win against Compton.

Santa Ana (6-5) sits a game above .500 following a double-overtime loss to Moorpark last week. Freshman Mac West leads the conference with a 19.6 points-per-game mark. He has been electric thus far by scoring over 10 points in each game and over 20 points in four games. He has scored 29 points on two occasions, but both coming in defeats.

Cypress (5-7), Riverside (3-8) and Golden West (1-11) round out the conference with the three losing records.

Opening Conference Matchups

Release by Nicho DellaValle, Santiago Canyon