Hornets

FULLERTON — Just three spots separate the women's basketball teams from Orange Coast College and Fullerton in the Southern California rankings. But the margin for error for the visiting Pirates Friday was even tighter, OCC Coach Mike Thornton said. So, despite catching the Hornets on what Thornton considered an off night, the Pirates failed to capitalize in a showdown for first place in the Orange Empire Conference. OCC (17-6, 4-1 in conference), ranked No. 6 in Southern California and No. 10 in the state, used a 10-0 run to take a 25-24 lead with a minute left in the first half.

COSTA MESA - Orange Coast College sophomore Brandon Brennan outdueled Fullerton counterpart Richard Lucas in a combined pitching gem so rare Thursday, both teams elected to seal it with a handshake. Brennan, who was bettered by Lucas and the Hornets, 5-3, on March 8 to absorb his only loss in eight decisions this season, bested Lucas this time, 1-0, in Orange Empire Conference action at the Pirates' diamond. Both pitchers allowed just three hits in complete-game efforts.

SACRAMENTO -- Sophomore midfielder Darbo Acuna converted a penalty kick in the 61st minute to break a 2-2 tie and propel the visiting UC Irvine men's soccer team to a 3-2 nonconference victory Sunday at Sacramento State. A Sacramento State defender was called for a hand ball in the 18-yard box to set up the penalty kick. It was the second goal of the game for Acuna, who converted an assist from senior midfielder Jason Thompson to forge a 1-1 tie in the seventh minute.

Barry Faulkner Orange Coast College football coach Mike Taylor is hoping for another week of progress, though his team faces a physical Fullerton squad that is developing a reputation for driving foes backward. OCC (0-3), will be aiming to end a seven-game losing streak today at 1 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton, as it visits a Mission Conference foe that is 3-0, ranked No. 19 nationally and No. 8 in the state. "We're going to have to set our jaw," Taylor said of facing the Hornets, who, he believes, possess a power offense built around a beefy line.

The UC Irvine men's basketball team will attempt to even its record tonight against visiting Sacramento State in a 7:05 nonconference game at the Bren Events Center. UCI (1-2) enters with a two-game losing streak after dropping road dates at USC and UCLA last week. Coach Pat Douglass' Anteaters are hoping to avenge a 64-56 loss last season at Sacramento State against a Hornet squad that comes in 1-3. The Hornets' pressure defense has helped create 175 combined turnovers, 86 by Sacramento State, in four games.

COSTA MESA - David Castleton scored 22 points for the Orange Coast College men's basketball team in Friday's 83-78 Orange Empire Conference loss to visiting Fullerton. Chad Hagedorn added 16 points, while Duc Nguyen had 15 for the Pirates (13-12, 2-8 in conference). The Pirates started off cold, hitting only 8 of 29 from the field in the first half. Fullerton didn't do much better, hitting 12 of 33. With the game close, the Hornets (15-12, 5-5) hit their free throws down the stretch to pull the game out. One factor in the Hornets' win was a 45-34 rebounding edge by Fullerton, including 16-8 on the offensive glass.

The Hornets improved to 3-0 this season after a 71-38 win over the Knicks in boys seventh- and eighth-grade Newport-Mesa National Junior Basketball action. Thomas Dialynas led the scoring output with 17 and Chase Pinesett tallied 11 for the Hornets. Timothy Regan played strong on defense as did Erik Rask (three points) and Kevin Rask (nine points). J.P. Gormly (10 points), Austin Apramian (five points), with Gus Ellis and Andy Rovzar (each with three points)

A 9-6 advantage in overtime vaulted the Orange Coast College women's basketball team to a 68-65 victory over the visiting Fullerton Hornets Wednesday night. In a game that saw 13 ties and 18 lead changes, Coast (21-4, 6-1 in the Orange Empire Conference) got 25 points from Liz Mendoza on 10-of-21 shooting followed by Lindsey Galasso (13) and Nancy Hatsushi (11) in the scoring column for the Pirates. Fullerton (16-8, 3-4) had two players collect a double-double (points and rebounds)

COSTA MESA - Orange Coast College sophomore Brandon Brennan outdueled Fullerton counterpart Richard Lucas in a combined pitching gem so rare Thursday, both teams elected to seal it with a handshake. Brennan, who was bettered by Lucas and the Hornets, 5-3, on March 8 to absorb his only loss in eight decisions this season, bested Lucas this time, 1-0, in Orange Empire Conference action at the Pirates' diamond. Both pitchers allowed just three hits in complete-game efforts.

Sacramento State junior Joe Eberhard was recently named the Big Sky Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week after leading the Hornets to a pair of victories and the program's first 2-0 start since the 2000-01 season. The Corona del Mar High product finished the week averaging 11.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 38.5 minutes per game. He shot 47.4% (nine for 19) from the field and 75 % (three for four) from the free-throw line. He was the team's third leading scorer during the week while pacing the Hornets in rebounding and minutes.

COSTA MESA — Orange Coast College women's basketball coach Mike Thornton acknowledged before Wednesday's showdown with visiting Fullerton that an inordinate amount of good fortune had helped the Pirates remain in contention for an Orange Empire Conference title. But the resounding 70-53 title-clinching victory by the Hornets (26-2, 11-0 in conference), ranked No. 1 in the state, proved it can often be better to be good than lucky. OCC (22-7, 9-2), ranked No. 6 in Southern California and No. 10 in the state, had some early magic, riding a 9-0 run to a 9-3 lead and clinging to a 22-21 deficit with 7:23 left in the first half.

FULLERTON — Just three spots separate the women's basketball teams from Orange Coast College and Fullerton in the Southern California rankings. But the margin for error for the visiting Pirates Friday was even tighter, OCC Coach Mike Thornton said. So, despite catching the Hornets on what Thornton considered an off night, the Pirates failed to capitalize in a showdown for first place in the Orange Empire Conference. OCC (17-6, 4-1 in conference), ranked No. 6 in Southern California and No. 10 in the state, used a 10-0 run to take a 25-24 lead with a minute left in the first half.

It's only January, but one of the worst big-budget films of this year is already in theaters. The decision makers at Sony were surely hoping that "The Green Hornet" would be a new comic book franchise in the "Spiderman" mold. Their expensive effort contains many obvious formula concepts and marketing strategies. But they forgot to create a movie that anyone would care about. Bad acting and directing serve a childish screenplay with tons of mindless action. The rambling story could be an attempt to parody superhero flicks.

Carly Van Oostendorp’s goal in the second quarter proved to be the game-winner for the Green Hornets, who captured the AYSO Area Q championship after a 1-0 win over the Mad Hornets in the girls’ under-12 division. Julianna Eifler assisted on Van Oostendorp’s goal that gave Region 97 the title against Region 120. Holly Halperin and Lani Kerrigan were excellent as goalkeepers for the Green Hornets, keeping the ball out of the net for a shutout.

  Submitted by Scott Brown The Green Grass from AYSO Region 57 won the boys’ U14 Mayor’s Cup championship game, 3-0, over Costa Mesa Sunday. The Grass were anchored by their stalwart defense and goaltending, which did not allow a single goal in the tournament. Max Helman had a great game and was able to shut down Costa Mesa’s top goal scorer. Court Clark made several key defensive stops making things difficult for Costa Mesa the entire game.

FULLERTON — On paper, at least, Orange Coast College was upset Saturday by host Fullerton in the National Division opener at Cal State Fullerton. But despite being ranked No. 8 in Southern California, three spots ahead of the defending division champion Hornets, few who follow community college football were surprised in the least by the 38-10 drubbing dealt to the Pirates. Because, through little fault of it’s own, OCC’s 4-0 start, in which its defense allowed a state-leading minus-72 rushing yards and it outscored its opponents, 104-64, led to the creation of the “Paper Pirates.

Newport-Mesa NJB has named its seventh- and eighth-grade all-stars who will represent the league in the upcoming NJB tournaments in March. Boys’ seventh- and eighth-grade combined team Kyle Morris (Clippers) Joey Cooper (Pistons) Sam Younessi (Pistons) Reid Chase (Wizards) Paul MacCabe (Clippers) David Bruno (Wizards) Micah Cox (Hornets) Niki Luna (Lakers) Alex Wilde (Pistons) Chase McElroy (Celtics) Max Zielinski (Lakers)