Southern Section Boys’ 3-A : Kennedy Takes Tustin Into Overtime and Wins, 58-54

Regardless of his game plan, Coach John Mayberry’s La Palma Kennedy High School basketball team seems to wind up in overtime. Which is good, since the Fighting Irish always save their best for last.

Kennedy, which beat Rolling Hills, 83-80, in triple overtime in Tuesday’s 3-A semifinal game, worked overtime Saturday to beat Tustin, 58-54, at the Sports Arena and win its first Southern Section 3-A basketball championship.

“We have been in the playoffs seven of the past eight years, but we always are knocked out after two rounds,” Mayberry said. “We just couldn’t get over the hump.”

It took the Irish almost five minutes to get on the board, but they took a lead they didn’t relinquish until two seconds left in regulation, when the Tillers tied the score, 52-52, on Brad Cantrell’s three-point shot.

Cantrell, one of the Sea View league’s best outside shooters, and 6-foot 6-inch center Leo Parker Jr., Tustin’s top shooter, were the biggest pregame threats to the Irish.

For Tustin’s game plan to work, Cantrell had to hit his shots early to free Parker inside. But Cantrell scored only seven points, missing all 3 of his two-point attempts and 9 of 11 three-pointers.

But Tustin Coach Tom McCluskey never changed his strategy. Instead, other players tried to pick up the slack, but the Irish made just 6 of 27 three-point attempts. As a result, the Irish were able to hold Parker to 14 points.

“If I were scouting my team, I would put two or three men on Leo (Parker) and make the other guys beat us,” McCluskey said.

“That’s what they did. We were lucky to be down by just five (points) at the half. They did a good job, but we just couldn’t hit the shots--that’s why they beat us.”

With Tustin trailing, 50-42, in the fourth quarter, Cantrell seemed to recharge the Tillers when he hit his first three-pointer. Parker scored on a layup to bring Tustin to within three points, before Kennedy’s Michael Keith’s basket increased the lead to 52-47.

Cantrell missed a free throw, but Lunyon Maxwell scored on the rebound to make the score 52-49 with 2:10 left.

“All we were saying on the bench was don’t let No. 3 (Cantrell) have the ball,” Mayberry said.

That’s exactly what happened. With 19 seconds left, Kennedy’s Michael Pettengill lost the ball out of bounds. After a Tustin time out, LeSean London inbounded the ball to Cantrell, who played catch with London before sinking a three-pointer.

But Kennedy has never lost in overtime--and this was no exception. The Irish scored four quick points to lead, 56-52. Then, with eight seconds left, Pettengill hit two from the free-throw line to put the game out of reach.