PREP BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : 3-A Semifinals : Tustin Uses Patience to Advance

Tustin High School Coach Tom McCluskey summed up his pregame strategy in two words Wednesday night before the Tillers played Palos Verdes in a Southern Section 3-A semifinal game.

“Offensive patience,” he said. “It’ll win this ballgame.”

And so it did. Tustin patiently overcame the Sea Kings, 63-59, in front of an estimated 1,500 at Redondo Union High School at Redondo Beach.

The victory advanced third-seeded Tustin (24-5) to Saturday’s championship game at the Los Angeles Sports Arena against Kennedy, a 83-80 triple-overtime winner over Rolling Hills Tuesday.

Palos Verdes, which had won six of seven playoff games over two years, finished 19-9.

“They just had the big plays at the right times,” said John Mihaljevich, who finished his 21st year coaching at Palos Verdes. “Especially Parker.”

Mihaljevich was referring to Tustin’s 6-foot 6-inch center Leo Parker, who scored a game-high 25 points on 12-of-16 shooting.

Parker, who had 11 rebounds, 5 blocked shots and 5 assists, was an all-purpose player in the first half, scoring 13 points with a mix of turnaround jumpers, perimeter set shots and offensive tip-ins.

Tustin showed its patience from the game’s opening minutes.

On its first possession, the Tillers passed in, out and around Palos Verdes’ zone for 59 seconds--to the chants of “Borrring, Borrring!” from an impatient crowd--before finding Brad Cantrell open for a three-pointer and a 3-0 lead.

But Palos Verdes picked up the tempo, scoring seven consecutive points and leaving Tustin looking a little lost. Parker scored eight points to bring the Tillers back, giving them a 17-16 lead going into the second quarter.

Palos Verdes continued to press the pace, but it didn’t faze Tustin, which managed to maintain its steady half-court game. Parker missed two easy opportunities, then came back with five consecutive points and a no-look pass to Dylon Stieler to give Tustin a 27-25 lead.

Stieler, who looked a bit sleepy in the first quarter, added a three-point play and a pretty reverse layup to give Tustin a 32-29 lead at halftime.

The Sea Kings increased the intensity in the third quarter. Guard John Mika, who finished with 18 points, tried a few flashy drives but often found himself in a tangle of Tillers and was held scoreless in the quarter. Palos Verdes forwards Ian Filep and Mike Matteoni picked up the slack, scoring six points apiece to hold Tustin to a 50-44 lead.

Palos Verdes slowed it down early in the fourth period, which ended in some well-calculated plays. Jeff Whitley drove the baseline and added two free throws moments later to tie the score, 54-54, with 4:24 remaining.

Parker added three inside baskets, but Mika answered with a drive and two foul shots, and Tustin had a two-point lead (60-58) with 1:17 to go. B. LeSean London added a foul shot, and Lunyon Maxwell added two more to hold off Palos Verdes in the final minute.

Some were surprised Palos Verdes didn’t use a box-and-one defense, one that held Sunny Hills’ Brian McCloskey to five points in last Friday’s quarterfinals. The Sea Kings opted for a combination of man-to-man pressure and a 2-3 zone, hoping to keep Tustin’s outside shooting threats, Brad Cantrell and Cheavly Ly, in check.

“I thought they’d try some gimmicky thing, but they played straight-up basketball,” McCluskey said. “And that was certainly OK with me.”