SEA VIEW LEAGUE GIRLS’ BASKETBALL : Garner Hits 43-Footer, Tustin Wins at Buzzer

Tustin girls’ basketball Coach Rick Falk calls Christine Garner the best shooter on the team. Thursday night, the senior center took that opinion to new dimensions.

Garner sank a 43-foot shot at the buzzer to give the Tillers a 46-45 upset over host Woodbridge, ranked sixth in the county, in the Sea View League opener for both teams Thursday night.

It was the second three-pointer of the game for Garner, who was mobbed at midcourt by screaming teammates and fans.

It was a shot that Garner said easily overshadows any other she has ever made.

“It doesn’t even compare to any other shot,” said Garner, who led all scorers with 23 points and had a game-high 16 rebounds. “I think I’ll remember this one for a while.”

Garner set the stage for the winning basket by intentionally fouling Florencia Luppani with five seconds to play, hoping to get the ball back for one final shot if the Woodbridge guard missed one of her free throws.

Presto.

Luppani, who finished with only five points, converted the first attempt but missed the second. Garner grabbed the rebound, dribbled upcourt and unleashed the shot. It hit nothing but net.

“We said whoever got the rebound would have to shoot it,” Falk said. “There was no time for a pass.”

Toward the end, it seemed like the Tillers would have time left only to wonder how they had let a game nearly get away from them.

Tustin (11-5, 1-0 in league) jumped to a 13-3 advantage after one quarter behind the shooting of Garner, who opened the game with a three-pointer from the top of the key, and led by 13 points (18-5) with 5 minutes 35 seconds remaining in the second quarter before Woodbridge launched an impressive comeback.

The Warriors (11-4, 0-1), which lost to Tustin twice in league last season, closed the deficit to 32-29 after three quarters and went ahead for the first time in the game, 42-41, on a three-pointer by Lisa Ramos with 1:32 left to play.

Garner then made a 15-foot jumper with 55 seconds remaining but Lisa Ripley answered for Woodbridge with 19 seconds left. Garner was called for traveling on Tustin’s next possession, turning the ball over to Woodbridge and forcing the Tillers to give two consecutive intentional fouls to get into a penalty situation.

Ramos led Woodbridge with 19 points, including three three-pointers.

In other Sea View League games:

Newport Harbor 53, Corona del Mar 31--Newport Harbor (6-4, 1-0) had three players score in double figures in the league-opening victory at Corona del Mar (5-10, 0-1). Michaela Ross had 16 points, Maureen McLaren scored 14 and Gina Heads had 12 for the Sailors.

University 72, Saddleback 18--Sophomore forward Jennifer Stanley came off the bench to score 22 points for University (10-5, 1-0), which won its eighth consecutive game. Christie Loud added 18 points for the Trojans.