Ligon said he heard his coach, but elected instead to heed the atypical green light granted him by Spencer, as he pulled up for a 15-foot jump shot that flowed through the net for two of his career-high 37 points.
"The guy was off me and I know I can make that shot," said Ligon, for whom there are few shots that create anything less than complete confidence. "I think [Spencer] trusts me in those situations."
Spencer later agreed that he had no quibble with Ligon's offensive appetite, which produced 21 points before halftime and concluded by scoring his team's final nine points.
"With a shooter like that, sometimes you have to give him a little freedom," Spencer said. "Sometimes, you just have to go with it."
Ligon, who had a career-high 30 in the Pirates' only other home game this season (a 64-57 win over Moorpark on Dec. 9), made 13 of 25 field-goal attempts against the Dons, including seven of 13 from three-point range.
Ligon's first-half explosion helped OCC (6-11, 1-1 in conference) build separate leads of 10 points in the middle of which Santa Ana (7-9, 1-2) used a 15-4 run to take a 21-20 advantage, its only lead of the night.
Utilizing its full-court pressure, frenetic zone and constantly changing defensive schemes, OCC managed to thoroughly frustrate the visitors.
Offensively, Ligon's ability to find shots, and his teammates' penchant for finding him open, was the leading component to the Pirates producing a season-best scoring output.
"I thought we played with a little more energy and enthusiasm and passion tonight," Spencer said. "I think the kids played hard tonight and everybody that played [all 14 players] contributed in some form or fashion."
As for the most noteworthy contribution, Spencer stated the obvious.
"Will can make some shots, man," Spencer said of the lithe, 6-foot-2 sophomore who averaged 5.2 points per game as a senior at Centennial High in Corona in 2009-10. "The guy can shoot the freakin' ball."
