Orange County Sports / Prep Basketball : Sea View League : Saddleback Gets Share of 1st Place

After kissing a baby, dancing a two-step and hugging everyone nearby with rapid-fire emotion, Saddleback High School’s boys’ basketball coach, Pat Quinn, calmed himself long enough to put his feelings into words for the crowd of elated Roadrunner fans.

“In credible ,” Quinn said. “It’s just . . . incredible.”

Quinn’s description of his team’s 72-66 upset victory over Tustin Friday night at Tustin could not be more appropriate.

The victory moved Saddleback (19-4, 7-1), the fifth-ranked team in the Orange County Sportswriters’ Assn. poll, into a first-place tie in the Sea View League with Tustin (20-4, 7-1), ranked third.

“The kids pulled it all together,” Quinn said. “We answered the bell. The chemistry was there.”

The Roadrunners shot 55% from the field, almost 20% better than their last meeting with Tustin three weeks ago when they lost, 69-58. Craig Marshall scored 23 points, and brothers Gylan and Malru Dottin added 18 points each to lead Saddleback. Malru Dottin hit 8 of 12 shots for 67%.

Tustin secured a 16-13 lead in the first quarter, with two three-point shots each from guard B. LeSean London and Brad Cantrell.

But Saddleback came back in the second quarter with fast-break scoring drives by Marshall (nine points) and Gylan Dottin (six points) to take a halftime 32-29 lead.

Tustin pulled within one (38-37) early in the third quarter, but three Tustin turnovers helped Saddleback take a 48-39 lead. Tustin center Leo Parker scored four straight points from inside and Cheavly Ly made a three-point basket to bring the Tillers within five (51-46) at the end of the third.

Saddleback outrebounded Tustin, 9-2, in the fourth quarter, helping the Roadrunners to four fast-break baskets and the victory.

Parker, who averages 20.9 points, scored a game-high 25 points and Cantrell scored 17 to lead Tustin.

University 66, Newport Harbor 64--University rallied in the fourth quarter by outscoring Newport Harbor, 26-14. Stephan Mumaw (14 points) and Junior Oliver each scored eight points in the quarter, and Dave Warren added seven of his 15 to lead the University surge. Steve Stolzoff led University (10-13, 2-6) with 21 points. Newport Harbor is 2-6 in league.

Estancia 72, Corona del Mar 69 (3 OT)--Estancia outscored Corona del Mar, 8-5, in the third overtime to win at home. The game took nearly 2 1/2 hours to complete. Ozzie Campos led Estancia with 21 points and Mike Curtis added 17. Matt Cwiertnia led Corona del Mar with 17 points and Geoff Probst added 15.