Saddleback Defeats Irvine Valley

Saddleback got two key free throws from Donzell Hayes with 11 seconds left and hung on to beat visiting Irvine Valley, 66-63, in an Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball game Friday.

The free throws by Hayes (15 points) put Saddleback ahead, 66-63, and Irvine Valley’s Commander King missed a three-pointer from the corner as time ran out.

Vernon Jackson scored 23 points and had 12 rebounds for first-place Saddleback (18-8, 9-1), which has won eight in row. The Gauchos are two games in front of Santa Ana and Riverside with four left.

In other men’s games:

Santa Ana 73, Golden West 70--Travis Fenderson’s three-point attempt bounced off the rim as time expired for host Golden West.

Chris Mattice had 24 points and Greg Gray added 21 for Santa Ana (19-8, 7-3).

Orange Coast 70, Fullerton 64--David Castleton and Terrail Zoller scored 12 points each for visiting Orange Coast (14-12, 5-5).

In Orange Empire Conference women’s basketball:

Santa Ana 58, Golden West 51--Host Golden West trailed, 51-49, after Kelly Medlen scored on a rebound basket with 1:31 left but Santa Ana (20-6, 9-1) made six of eight free throws to stay ahead. Stephanie Patten scored 21 points and Rochelle Anthony added 12 for Santa Ana, which trails first-place Irvine Valley by a game with four left.

Santa Ana is at Irvine Valley at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.