HORNETS END REGULAR SEASON AS NO. 1 TEAM IN THE STATE!
The OEC Champs wrapped up the regular season Friday night with an impressive 84-69 win over visiting Irvine Valley College finishing a perfect 14-0 in Orange Empire Conference play.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
32 | 37 | 69 |
|
|
39 | 45 | 84 |
Team Stats
Irvine Valley
| Game Statistics | Irvine Valley | FULL |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (25-56) | (31-60) |
| Field Goal % | 44.6% | 51.7% |
| Rebounds | 34 | 37 |
| Assists | 19 | 21 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 10 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 7 | 9 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 8 | 15 |
| Pts in the Paint | 32 | 46 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 7 | 9 |
| Bench Pts | 28 | 27 |
The OEC Champs wrapped up the regular season Friday night with an impressive 84-69 win over visiting Irvine Valley College finishing a perfect 14-0 in Orange Empire Conference play.
The last time the Hornets completed an undefeated OEC season was during their state-title run in 2022-23 when they went 16-0. Since the conference began play in 1986-87, only eight teams have gone unbeaten: Cypress once (1989-90), Saddleback four times (2000-01, 2002-03, 2012-13, 2015-16), and Fullerton three times (2005-06, 2022-23, 2025-26). Overall, the Hornets close out the regular season with a dominant 27-1 record mirroring their 2022-23 campaign heading into the playoffs.
Irvine Valley came out hot, knocking down two three-pointers in the opening minutes to take a 6-3 lead. A layup by Yoda Oke tied the game at 8-8 sparking an 11-3 Hornet run that pushed the advantage to 19-11 by the 10-minute mark. The Lasers pulled within three at 27-24 with six minutes remaining in the half, but Fullerton answered with a few big shots and steady execution to carry a 39-32 lead into the break.
The Hornets took firm control in the second half opening on a 12-4 run to stretch the margin to 51-36. With five minutes left, Fullerton continued to keep the Lasers at bay behind strong defense and dominance in the paint outscoring IVC 15-8 on second-chance points and holding a decisive 46-32 edge in points in the paint. By the final minute, the Hornets were firmly in command finishing the season with authority.
Donovan Pitts led the way with a stellar performance dropping in a team-high 20 points to go along with 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal. Brayden Smith added 17 points and 3 rebounds, while Jaqari Miles (4-7 three-pointers) finished with 14 points and 7 boards. Yoda Oke (2-3 three-pointers) chipped in 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, while MJ Smith contributed 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Up Next: The No. 1-ranked Hornets now await the playoff picture as it unfolds this weekend with their opponent for the 3C2A Southern California Regionals set to be determined ahead of next week's postseason action.
