Saddleback Comes Back to Win, 62-51

COSTA MESA — Saddleback blew an early lead but came back to dominate down the stretch in a 62-51 victory over Orange Coast in the title game of the Coast Christmas Classic on Sunday.

The Gauchos (10-0) led, 16-5, with 12 minutes 13 seconds left in the first half, but OCC rallied and trailed at the half, 29-28.

Saddleback’s LaShieka Henderson started an 8-2 run with a basket to put the Gauchos ahead, 45-41, with 9:07 left to play.

Maureen Skehan scored Saddleback’s next six points and the Gauchos led, 51-43, with 6:22 left to play.

Orange Coast (10-4) got no closer than five points the rest of the way.

Skehan finished with a game-high 12 points, 10 of which came in the second half. Henderson had 11 and Maggie Gorska added eight, all in the second half.

Char-Ron Walker, the tournament’s most valuable player, had seven points and 11 rebounds for Saddleback.

“We played a little bit better in the second half,” Saddleback Coach Jack Single said. “Our shooting in the first half was atrocious [35%].”

Traci Nakamura came off the bench to score 11 for Orange Coast (10-4).