Victor Valley Spoils Cypress' Bid for Tourney Crown

Cypress squanders early lead in loss to Victor Valley.

• BOX SCORE vs. Victor Valley
• BOX SCORE vs. East L.A. 

Montel Taylor

San Diego, Calif. - The Chargers jumped out to an early lead over Victor Valley in the semi-final matchup at the Holiday Inn Tournament at San Diego Mesa College on Thursday, missed opportunities cost them down the stretch in a 76-60 loss.

Montel Taylor led Cypress College's scoring attack with a team-high 17 points. Andre Winn added 16 points, but Cypress (6-8) wasn't able to beat Victor Valley for a second straight time this year. The Chargers knocked off Victor Valley 91-85 three weeks ago at the Santa Barbara City Tournament.

Cypress came out of the gate firing and claimed an early 12-4 lead. The Charger advantage would eventually dwindle to one point at 21-20, before Victor Valley would go ahead for good in the game.

The Chargers will take on the loser of West Valley and Santa Ana at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow in a battle for third place before heading back home to ring in the New Year.

Orange Empire Conference play gets underway next Wednesday, January 4, when Cypress opens its league schedule with a home game against Riverside Community College at 5:30 p.m.

Chargers Down East L.A. in Tourney Opener

Kourtney Maxim

Andre Winn finished with 19 points and Julius Von Hanzlik added 18 points to help lead Cypress College (6-7) past East L.A. in the opening round of the Holiday Inn Tournament at San Diego Mesa College on Wednesday.

Sophomore Kourtney Maxim added a team-high nine rebounds, while Jacob Nungaray and Chris Maheras each chipped in eight points in the Cypress victory.

As a team, Cypress hit 21 of 51 from the field, including 10 of 24 from beyond the arc and 14 of 21 from the charity stripe. The Chargers also had 25 defensive rebounds (33 total), two blocked shots and eight steals.


Cypress will play their second-round game in the winner's bracket tomorrow.

Men's Basketball Loses both at Saddleback Tourney

Chargers fall to Saddleback in consolation game.

Andre Winn

Mission Viejo, Calif. - Cypress College (5-7) lost to host Saddleback 72-59 in consolationa game of the Bill Brummel Tournament held at Saddleback College on Friday.

After trailing big heading into halftime, Cypress outscored the Gauchos in the second half behind a strong effort by sophomore point guard Andre Winn who finished with team-highs in points (21), rebounds (6) and steals (4). Julius Von Hanzlik added 18 points and Jacob Nungary chipped in seven points in the loss.

Cypress College (5-6) dropped its tourney opener against Mt. San Jacinto, 67-51, in the first round of the Bill Brummel Tournament held at Saddleback College on Thursday.

Sophomore guard Andre Winn scored a team-high 17 points for the Chargers, while Julius Von Hanzlik brought Cypress back to within six points at the half, trailing 32-26. Hanzlick 

That's the closest Cypress would get the rest of the way. After 

the break, Mt. San Jacinto went on a 17-4 run to go up 49-30 and 

blow the game wide open.

To close out the scoring, Winn hit the game's final three pointer with less than a minute left to go in 

the game in a 67-51 defea

t.game, Chargers will now have to face host Saddleback College at 3 p.m. on Friday in the consolation bracket.

Chargers Win Consolation Title at SBCC Tourney

Cypress wins consolation title with two straight victories over Victor Valley and West L.A.

Santa Barbara, Calif. - Cypress College pulled its record to even on the year (5-5), after running off two straight victories at the Santa Barbara City College Tournament. To earn the consolation championship, Cypress picked up a 91-85 win over Victor Valley in the semis, and an 81-77 victory over West L.A. in the consolation final.

Sophomore Andre Winn took over in the title game to pace the Chargers with a team-high 26 points on 8 of 18 shooting from the floor. Winn also hit 8 of 9 from the stripe, while collecting 4 assists and a steal.

Montel Taylor and Julius Von Hanzlik each finished with 15 points, while Javon Taylor chipped in 13 points to give the Chargers four players in double figures. Montel Taylor also led Cypress on the boards with a team-high 13 rebounds to give him a double-double on the afternoon and his second of the tournament. Jacob Nungaray's three steals led the Chargers on defense.


As a team, the Chargers hit 27 of 60 from the floor, and 22 of 27 from the free throw line. 

Cypress' good shooting and solid defense was the key to pulling out the 81-77 victory over West L.A. to earn the Consolation Championship at the Santa Barbara City College Tournament. The win marked Cypress' second over West L.A. this season. Cypress opened its 2011 campaign with a 86-84 victory over West L.A. at home.


Cypress will face Mt. San Jacinto in the opening round of the Saddleback Tournament on Thursday, December 15.

Box Score


Chargers Top Victor Valley 91-85


Cypress bounced back from an opening round loss to host Santa Barbara City with a 91-85 victory over Victor Valley in the consolation semi-final. 

Von Hanzlik led the Charger offensive attack with a team-high 24 points on a sizzling 8 of 11 shooting night that included seven three pointers. Winn finished right behind Von Hanzlik with 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. Nungaray ended with 11 points, while Kourtney Maxim and Montel Taylor each added 10 points apiece.

Malcolm Whittington led Cypess with 8 assists, and four Chargers tied for the team-lead in rebounds with six each.

Victor Valley tried to keep the game close, but Von Hanzlik was unstoppable from downtown in the Chargers 91-85 consolation semi-final victory. With the win, Cypress advanced to play West L.A. in the consolation finals.

Box Score

Cypress Falls to Host SBCC in Opening Round of Tourney

Andre Winn and Montel Taylor both finished with double-doubles, but the Chargers came up a little short in an 80-70 tournament opening loss to host Santa Barbara City College.

Winn finished with 12 points and 10 boards, while Taylor had 11 and 11 against SBCC. Whittington scored a team-high 17 points, and Von Hanzlik added 10 points to give the Chargers four players in double figures.

The Chargers were also led in assists by Winn with five, but Cypress' shooting trouble proved the difference after a 23 for 69 night from the floor, including 5 of 26 from beyond the arc.


Cypress takes on Victor Valley in the semi-finals of the consolation bracket next.


Box Score

Men's Basketball Wins Season Opener

Winn sparks Chargers offense in 86-84 victory over West L.A.


Cypress, Calif. - Cypress College men's basketball got off to a good start to the season with an 86-84 win over West L.A in a non-confernce matchup at home to open the year.

The Chargers (1-0) came out of the gate firing and took control of the game early, but West L.A. had a few hot shooters from the outside, and managed to stay within striking distance for much of the first half.

Cypress sophomore Andre Winn paced the Chargers with a team-high 23 points, and three of five from beyond the arc. Sophomore Kourtney Maxim had a good all-around night with 10 points and eight boards, including six at the offensive end.

Freshman Julius Von Hanzlik hit four threes to help him finish with 16 points, while freshman point guard Javon Taylor had two buckets and seven dimes in the game. Chris Maheras chipped in 10 points, three boards and two steals,

As a team, Cypress played some tight defense by forcing West L.A. into 16 turnovers.

With a 15-point lead late in the game, West L.A.got hot from beyond-the-arc, and hit three straight three pointers to cut the Chargers' lead down to six. Cypress' lead would eventually get down to two points, but that would prove to be just enough of a cushion for the Chargers to pull out an 86-84 victory in their season opener.

Cypress will begin a long road trip on Friday when they travel down south to play in the San Diego City Tournament. The Chargers won't play on their home court again until they open their Orange Empire Conference schedule on Wednesday, January 4 with a home game against Riverside Community College.