Saddleback to Defend Tournament Title

Long Beach, the defending State champion, and Saddleback, the defending tournament champion, are among the favorites in the Rancho Santiago Northwestern Mutual Life men’s basketball tournament that starts Wednesday in Santa Ana.

Saddleback has won the tournament four times. The Gauchos also took the title in 1979, 1987 and 1991. Saddleback opens with Chaffey at 2 p.m.

Skagit Valley (Wash.) takes on Long Beach at 4 p.m. Long Beach was the 1992 tournament champion.

Mt. San Antonio plays Rio Hondo at 6 p.m. and Rancho Santiago takes on MiraCosta at 8 p.m.

Rancho Santiago has won its own tournament, in its 18th year, three times and has been runner-up seven times.

The tournament continues Thursday and the title game is at 7 p.m. Friday.

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Fullerton plays host to a 16-team women’s tournament that starts Tuesday.

Riverside beat Golden West for the championship and Cypress defeated Fullerton for third place last season.

All four teams, from the Orange Empire Conference, are entered this year.

Golden West opens with Phoenix (Ariz.) at 10:15 a.m. Riverside plays Ohlone at noon, Fullerton plays Los Angeles Pierce at 7 p.m. and Cypress and Antelope Valley meet at 8:45 p.m.

The quarterfinals are Wednesday, the semifinals are Thursday and the title game is Friday at 4 p.m.