Gauchos get red-hot Renegades in regional semis

The Saddleback men's basketball team will host Bakersfield College on Wednesday night in the CCCAA Southern California Regional Semifinals at 7:00 PM.  For those that cannot make it, the game can be seen live on the Gaucho Sports Network.

Saddleback and Bakersfield have not played in years.  In fact, they have only played four times ever in the 48 years Saddleback has had basketball, with the Gauchos winning all four.  However, that was then and this is now and the stakes are high with the loser going home for good.  This season the two teams are polar opposites on the court, with Bakersfield being one of the top offensive teams in the state and the Gauchos stressing defense. 

Bakersfield (24-5) enters the regional semifinal red hot, winning 10 of its past 11 games.  The Renegades went on the road this past Wednesday as a No. 9 seed and took apart a very good Moorpark College team, 96-78.  Bakersfield has averaged 83.8 points-per-game this season shooting 48% from the field and 38% from three-point range.  They were the champions of the Western State South Division by three games over Antelope Valley, who somehow garnered the No. 7 seed while the conference champs were sent packing to go on the road in round one.   Bakersfield has scored 80-or-more points 21 times this season.  They are 20-1 in those games, losing only once to Las Positas in the semifinals of the Skyline Tournament in mid-December. 

Bakersfield has a multi-pronged attack, with four players averaging in double-digits in scoring.  Deandre Dickson heads the list at 18.1, followed closely by Jameik Riviere (16.7), Nick Velasquez (13.2) and Lawrence Moore (12.1).  Dickson has scored in double-digits in all but one game this season, averaging 21.8 points over the past five games.   Velasquez is lethal from beyond the arc, shooting 48% for the season.  Like Dickson, he has been on a torrid pace over the past five games, making 17-of-33 from long range and scoring a season-high 24 points against Santa Monica in the final game of the regular season.

Saddleback (28-1) has won 22 straight games, winning the rugged Orange Empire Conference title by three games over Fullerton and Cypress…two programs that were seeded in the top-12 for the SoCal playoffs.  The Gauchos have been ranked No. 1 in the state for all but one week during the season and have the top RPI in the state.  Saddleback's lone loss during the season came against San Bernardino Valley (60-63), who was dumped from the playoffs in overtime on Saturday night.  The Gauchos are the top defensive team in the state, surrendering just 55.7 points-per-game.  Saddleback has allowed a state-best 33% field goal percentage to opponents, giving up 60-or-less points on 21 occasions. 

Saddleback had seven different players named to All-Orange Empire Conference teams, led by conference MVP T.J. Shorts.  The freshman point guard averages 12.9 points-per-game, shooting 51% for the year and 56% from three-point range.  He was joined by Breaon Brady, Jalen Hall and Lyle Hexom on the first team while Brandon Fagins, Maurice Jones and Devonte Klines were all second team selections.  Brady, Fagins, Hexom and Daniel Young give Saddleback one of the bigger front lines in the state, with all four players being 6-foot-8 or bigger. 

Game time on Wednesday is set for 7:00 PM at the Saddleback Gymnasium.  The game can also be seen live via streaming video on the Gaucho Sports Network for a minimal fee.  All proceeds from the broadcast go directly back into the athletics program to help promote the athletes and teams.  To subscribe to the broadcast, click HERE.