NO CLEAR FAVORITE AS OEC PLAY BEGINS

Four programs lead the way, highlighted by No. 10 Santa Ana's flawless 14-0 start. No. 2 Fullerton follows closely at 13-1, while No. 15 Santiago Canyon sits at 11-3. No. 30 Irvine Valley rounds out the group with a 10-4 record.

After finishing the 2024–25 season just four games above .500, Santa Ana has nearly matched last year's win total before conference play even begins. The Dons opened the season with a five-point victory over Glendale and have not looked back. They have eclipsed the 90-point mark six times this season, including three games with 100 or more points. Aaron De Santiago leads the charge, averaging 19.4 points per game ranking second-best in the conference. He has scored at least 11 points in every contest, highlighted by a 33-point outburst in a win over LA Trade Tech. Joshua Garland has been the Dons' top perimeter threat, shooting 42.9 percent from three-point range to rank fourth in the conference.

No. 2 Fullerton, the 2024–25 3C2A State Runner-Up, appears poised for another title run after capturing two championships since 2019. The Hornets' lone loss came against No. 14 West LA in mid-November, but they rebounded by rattling off nine consecutive wins, including a double-overtime thriller against No. 6 Citrus. Yoda Oke paces Fullerton with 15.4 points per game, ranking fifth in the conference. He poured in a season-high 33 points in a commanding win over No. 26 Mt. San Jacinto on December 20 and followed with a 22-point performance in a win over No. 18 San Diego City in the final non-conference game.

No. 15 Santiago Canyon slipped five spots in the rankings but remains in a strong position entering conference play. Led by Jacob De Armas, who averages 14.9 points per game and is riding a five-game double-digit scoring streak, the Hawks opened the season on a seven-game winning streak. After dropping three of four games, they rebounded with three consecutive victories. Salim Semaan serves as the team's second scoring option at 12.7 points per game.

No. 30 Irvine Valley rounds out the double-digit win teams. The Lasers won four of their first five games and carry momentum into conference play. While they have scored 80 or more points just twice this season, they have relied on defense, holding opponents to 64.5 points per game, second-best in the conference behind Fullerton's 62.8. Matt Mowers leads Irvine Valley offensively, averaging 16.2 points per game, fourth-best in the conference. He is riding an eight-game double-digit scoring streak, highlighted by a pair of 25-point performances against Sierra and College of the Desert.

No. 17 Cypress and No. 22 Saddleback both enter conference action at 9-5.

Cypress is currently on a two-game skid after winning five of its previous six contests. Michael Wright has been the Chargers' offensive engine, leading the conference with 20.9 points per game while extending a 14-game double-digit scoring streak. He scored a season-high 31 points in a win over Pasadena and followed with 27 points in a one-point loss to No. 18 San Diego City.

Saddleback leans heavily on Charlie Stallings, who ranks third in the conference at 19.1 points per game. Stallings also owns a 14-game double-digit scoring streak, highlighted by a 30-point effort in a win over No. 18 San Diego City. He closed non-conference play with a 25-point performance in a victory over East Los Angeles.

No. 28 Riverside sits at 8-6 following a challenging non-conference schedule that included a split against No. 16 Ventura. Kollen Murphy leads the Tigers with 15.2 points per game, ranking just outside the conference's top five scorers. Orange Coast rounds out the conference standings at 1-13. The Pirates' lone win came in an 87-80 victory over Santa Barbara at the Canyons Tournament in late December, snapping a 13-game losing streak. Chris Obiajulu leads the team with 13.9 points per game.

Story by Nicho DellaValle, Santiago Canyon College