Fullerton Tops Irvine Valley, Stays in First

Fullerton, which didn’t play a home men’s basketball game in December, has made the most of its chances in January.

The Hornets completed an impressive week at home by beating Irvine Valley, 60-50, Friday in an Orange Empire Conference first-place showdown.

The victory, which was keyed by solid defense, especially against Daryl Todd, gives Fullerton (13-9, 6-0) a one-game lead over Irvine Valley (17-7, 5-1) with one game left in the first round.

“We’ve only won six games,” Fullerton Coach Dieter Horton said. “My guess is it’s going to take 12 or 13 victories to win the conference. We haven’t won anything yet.”

The victory was the third at home this month for Fullerton, which beat visiting Saddleback, 61-53, Wednesday.

Todd, Irvine Valley’s talented sophomore forward who was averaging 20 points, was guarded tightly by freshman Ernie Burries, who had a lot of help from teammates crashing down when Todd got the ball inside.

Todd (11 points) was four of 14 from the field but had 10 rebounds.

“It was a team thing,” Burries said. “They called out the picks and let me through the screens.”

Irvine Valley led once, 8-7, and Fullerton was up, 31-25, at the half. The Hornets used a 6-0 run to start the second half and were up by at least 10 much of the rest of the way.

The lead grew to its largest at 15 with 7 minutes 31 seconds left, after Burries (eight points, 11 rebounds) made consecutive baskets.

Irvine Valley then went on a 9-0 run and cut the lead to 53-47 with 3:51 left.

Fullerton’s Brian Montonati made about a 10-footer to put Fullerton up, 55-47, with 3:27 left.

Montonati led with 12 points and Ty-Juan Berry added 11 and six assists for Fullerton, which is at Orange Coast Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

J.C. Timmons had 13 points for Irvine Valley, which shot 34% (18 of 52).

“We just weren’t sharp,” Irvine Valley Coach Jerry Hernandez said. “We fought ourselves and [Fullerton’s] hot and playing well.”