Taylor headlines All-OEC selections
The coaches from the Orange Empire Conference convened over the weekend, with one of the tasks being the selection of the All-Orange Empire Conference Team. The Bobcats had four players named to the team, led by Atiba Taylor.
Taylor was chosen as the conference Offensive Player-of-the-Year. He finished the regular season averaging 16.5 points-per-game and averaged 19.1 points-per-game in conference play. Taylor shot 50.2% from the field during conference play while making 84.9% of his free throws. The sophomore from Hackensack (NJ) scored over 20 points-per-game over the last 10 games of the season with a season-high of 33 points against Santiago Canyon College on January 28. Taylor was also second on the team in rebounds (133) and third in assists (58).
Joining Taylor of the All-Orange Empire Conference First Team was Jimuel Reyes. The freshman from AB Miller High School (Fontana) scored in double-figures 16 times during the season, averaging 12.8 points-per-game while shooting 42.9% from three-point range in conference play. Reyes led the team in both assists (66) and steals (59) and had a season-high of 25 points against Irvine Valley College on February 15.
Nick Bowden was named to the All-Orange Empire Conference Second Team after averaging 13.6 points-per-game during the season and 13.7 points-per-game in conference play. Bowden was a pillar of consistency throughout the season, scoring 20-or-more points in seven games. Bowden showed off his sharpshooting skills when he set the single-game record with nine three-pointers in a game against Santa Ana on February 4. The freshman from Playa del Rey (St. Bernard HS) was second on the team in assists (65) and third in steals (31).
Derek Rubidoux was a valuable piece of the puzzle for the Bobcats and earned All-Orange Empire Conference Honorable Mention as a result. Despite being just 6-foot-3, Rubidoux proved to be one of the better rebounders in the entire conference, averaging 7.9 rebounds-per-game during OEC play (4th). Rubidoux led the team with 184 rebounds for the year and was second on the team in steals (35) and fourth in assists (56). The freshman from Riverside (Poly HS) had a season-high of 17 points against Fullerton College on February 17.
Saddleback opens the playoffs at San Diego Miramar College on Tuesday night at 7:00 PM.