San Pasqual Learns Tustin Isn’t Harmless : Division II: Tillers look short and slow, but they win, 85-61, to advance to title game against Artesia.

The organized mayhem Tustin High School calls a basketball team swept past yet another unsuspecting opponent Thursday night.

The Tillers, a benign looking bunch on first sight, buried Escondido San Pasqual, 85-61, in the Southern California Regional Division II semifinals at Tustin. The victory puts Tustin in Saturday’s regional final against Artesia at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

Tustin (28-4) comes into that game at full speed after Thursday’s victory.

“We never got into our offense,” San Pasqual Coach Tom Buck said. “That wasn’t our fault; they wouldn’t let us do anything. It wasn’t that we played poorly, it was that they made us play poorly.”

With only one starter taller than 6-foot-2, the Tillers don’t look as if they can do much harm. Their guards, David Beilstein and Derek Roche, look small and slow.

Yet, this baby-faced bunch steam-rolled its way to the Southern Section Division II-AA championship and has continued with its routing ways in the state tournament.

“We know what we can do and go out and do it,” forward Thomas Clayton said. “We don’t look like the best team around, but we don’t let the other team have an inch.”

From its full-court press to its half-court offense, Tustin played flawless basketball Thursday. A standing-room only crowd of more than 1,700, most of whom were Tustin fans, watched with pleasure while the Tillers carved up the Eagles.

Tustin forced 28 turnovers with its press, 17 of which were in the first half. As a result, San Pasqual managed only 16 shots in the first half and trailed, 39-23.

Thomas Clayton had seven steals and Jentry Moore six.

“We figured we could press them,” Coach Tom McCluskey said. “We thought their guards we suspect.”

Not even the presence of 6-10 Erik Meek could alter the outcome.

Meek, who will attend Duke next fall, Tuesday scored 39 points in San Pasqual’s victory over Woodbridge. The Tillers held him to 25, five below his season average.

Tustin center Brian Reider, who is three inches shorter, went elbow-to-elbow with Meek. The two banged inside to a draw.

“He’s a strong guy, but I was determined not to be pushed around,” Reider said. “When he shoved, I shoved.”

With the score was 17-17 early in the second quarter, Tustin went on a 17-2 run. Clayton, who scored 25 points, started it with a tip-in off a lob pass and Derek Roche capped it with a three-point field goal.

Between, the Eagles looked bewildered. They turned the ball over on five consecutive possessions at one point.

Beilstein continued the onslaught in the third quarter by scoring 13 of his 24 points. He made three three-pointers in the quarter, one from 25 feet.

“When we’re on, there aren’t many teams that can beat us,” Clayton said. “And we were on tonight.”