SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : 4-AA BOYS : Tustin Finds Its Way in Overtime

After staving off defeat at every turn, Tustin High School finally found what it was looking for Friday night in overtime against Mission Viejo.

The Tillers found that persistence really can pay off.

Scrappy play kept Tustin in the game, but power basketball made the difference in a 56-51 overtime victory over Mission Viejo at Tustin.

Tustin advanced to play Edison, a 67-51 winner over Agoura, in Tuesday night’s 4-AA quarterfinals.

“We’re just as happy as devils,” Tustin Coach Tom McCluskey said. “This is beautiful. Thank goodness we won it.”

Or thank David Beilstein.

Beilstein, a Tustin guard, made five of six free throws in the final 52 seconds of overtime to secure the victory. The Tillers outscored the Diablos, 13-8, in overtime.

But Beilstein, who scored 14 points, wasn’t the only star for the Tillers. Thomas Clayton led Tustin with 20 points, including the first three in overtime.

Clayton, who scored 23 points to lead Tustin to its first-round victory over Sunny Hills Tuesday, was impressive in the low post. His first basket in overtime was a turnaround jumper over Greg Amaya.

“The kids showed unbelievable poise tonight,” McCluskey said. “Going inside, our post play was the key.”

Tustin’s Fred Robinson tied the score, 43-43, on a layup with 14 seconds remaining, and the game went into overtime when Eric Cramer’s half-court shot fell short.

Mission Viejo (19-7), Orange County’s third-ranked team, had several opportunities to put the victory away in regulation.

After leading, 21-20, at halftime, Mission Viejo opened the third quarter by forcing three consecutive turnovers, and Cramer’s three-pointer gave the Diablos a quick 28-20 lead.

But Mission Viejo’s Mark Wright was called for a technical foul, and Tustin forced two turnovers to cut its deficit to 31-26.

The fourth quarter gave Tustin more hope, especially in the final 30 seconds. Derek Roche, who was just promoted from the junior varsity, made both ends of a one-and-one to cut Mission Viejo’s lead to 43-41. On Mission Viejo’s ensuing possession, Cramer was fouled, but with 14 seconds left, he missed the front end of a one-and-one.

Twelve seconds later, Robinson’s layup sent the game into overtime.

“They (Tustin) deserved it,” Mission Viejo Coach Bob Minier said. “We didn’t make our free throws, that’s the name of the game. We had our chance to ice it and we didn’t. It comes down to those little things.

“They were quick tonight. They were hyped. But when you got a lead like that, you’ve got to make your free throws.”