SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Tustin Coach Won’t Reveal Plans to Stop Gahr’s Sharp-Shooter

Tom McCluskey, basketball coach at Tustin, tried a little humor, then tried to avoid the question when asked how he planned to defend Cerritos Gahr’s standout guard, Brandon Titus, in a second-round game of the Southern Section Division II-AA playoffs at 7:30 tonight.

“Pray a lot,” McCluskey said.

When pressed further, McCluskey said, “Their team is more than Brandon Titus. (Guard) Khary Hervey can flat-out play. He’s very, very talented. Their center (Wynton Cox) is a real concern because he shoots well inside 10 feet and boards well.”

That’s fine, but how does McCluskey plan to defend Titus, a two-time All-Southern Section selection who averages 24.3 points and shoots 35% from three-point range?

McCluskey wouldn’t tip his hand, but it’s a good bet Gentry Moore will get the assignment if the Tillers (20-7) open with a man-to-man defense against host Gahr (19-8).

“We’ll see how the game starts,” McCluskey said. “I don’t think we can play a gimmick defense or double-cover Titus, because the other guys could hurt us. Hopefully, Titus won’t score 40 points.”

Tustin, the defending State Division II champion, struggled early in the season. Moore was sidelined because of an ankle injury and Maurice Fletcher was playing for the Tillers’ football team that reached the playoffs.

Playing with returning guard Derek Roche and four junior varsity players, Tustin lost five of its first seven games. But the Tillers have lost only two games (Estancia and Woodbridge) since winter break.

“I don’t think many people realize what we’ve had to go through this season,” McCluskey said. “We’re a good ballclub. We’ll find out how good against Gahr.”

In another II-AA game:

Sunny Hills (21-4) at Woodbridge (17-6): Woodbridge has scoring balance and tradition going for it, having played in a sectional championship in three of the past five years. Sunny Hills counters with the North County’s best player, Terry Mann, who averages 22.9 points and 10.2 rebounds. Mann is the two-time most valuable player in the Freeway League.

In Division I-AA:

Capistrano Valley (24-3) at Esperanza (17-10): Capistrano Valley’s quickness, sharp shooting (52% as a team) and size will be too much for Esperanza. The Cougars have beaten some of the section’s best teams, including J.W. North, Lakewood, Trabuco Hills (twice) and Santa Clara. Esperanza counters with forward Matt Kordik (22.3 points, 10.7 rebounds).

Also: Lynwood (22-6) at Santa Ana Valley (13-10).

In Division I-A:

Ventura Buena (20-5) at Marina (17-9): Lance Fay, the section’s top scorer with a 30.3 average, leads Buena. Buena averaged 78.7 points in the Channel League. Forward Darren Crooks, the co-most valuable player in the Sunset League with Edison’s Brandon Jessie, is Marina’s top threat with a 17.2 scoring average.

Irvine (22-5) at Los Alamitos (17-9): Guard Jado Lee is coming off a career-high 32-point game against Cerritos in the first round. Lee made 13 of 17 shots in the victory and had three three-pointers. Los Alamitos also has a “go-to guy” in forward Jason Cunningham, who averages 22.1 points and 11.8 rebounds.

Also: Mater Dei (27-1) at Riverside Arlington (19-7); Indio (17-6) at Huntington Beach (16-10).

In Division II-A:

Valencia (14-9) at Buena Park (20-5): This game could get physical with football standouts Marc O’Brien, Kevin and Korey Alexander playing for Valencia and Angel Barrios, Gavin Molinar and Chris Stone (now eligible) playing for Buena Park. Adolfo Gomez averages 14 points and 10 rebounds for Valencia; Barrios averages 13.5 points and 7.4 rebounds.

Mission Hills Alemany (14-11) at Trabuco Hills (21-5): Forward Rich Dice is a scoring threat inside and beyond the three-point line. Dice averages 22.6 points and 12.4 rebounds. But Trabuco Hills’ 6-foot-11 center, Gavin Vanderputten, should have a field day against Alemany’s weak interior defense. Vanderputten averages 22.9 points and 10.6 rebounds.

Also: Mission Viejo (8-17) at Los Amigos (8-15); Kennedy (20-6) at Troy (15-10).

In Division III-AA:

Servite (14-11) at Brea-Olinda (13-12): For those wondering if Servite was a title contender, check the 26-1 scoring blitz the Friars had in the first quarter of their opening-round victory against Rim of the World. Brea-Olinda, tri-champion of the Orange League, is led by guard Scott Hole (14 points) and forward Drew Hubbard (10 points, 6.6 rebounds).

El Dorado (14-12) at Estancia (20-6): Guard Mike Johnson made six three-point shots in El Dorado’s opening-round, 76-64 victory over Magnolia. Johnson averages 14.4 points and is shooting 44.7% from three-point range. Estancia, which had a first-round bye, is led by Stanford-bound forward Matt Fuerbringer, who averages 19.2 points and 9.1 rebounds.

Also: Lompoc (14-8) at Santa Margarita (18-8); Newport Harbor (11-14) at Compton Centennial (18-8); Western (17-7) at Encino Crespi (14-8); Foothill (14-12) at Newbury Park (13-10).

In Division III-A:

Rancho Alamitos (14-10) at West Covina South Hills (18-6): It will be lights out for the county’s teams in this division after tonight. Rancho Alamitos is scrappy, but should be no match for South Hills’ forward Jeremy Giambi (20.6 points, 7.1 rebounds) and guard Larry Palmer (15.4 points, 6.6 assists).

In Division IV-A:

Orange Lutheran (14-12) at Calvary Chapel (17-5): Orange Lutheran lost eight of its first 11 games but has rebounded to win 11 of its past 15. Calvary Chapel has defeated its opponents by an average margin of 24.4 points. Forwards John O’Brien (23 points, 13.1 rebounds) and Sabe Younger (17.3 points, 14.9 rebounds) lead Calvary Chapel.

Also: Whittier Christian (12-12) at L.A. Verbum Dei (17-6).

In Division V-AA:

Brethren Christian (23-2) at St. Margaret’s 14-6): Brethren Christian has won 14 consecutive games behind the play of forwards Chiron Hart (17.4 points, seven rebounds and 3.5 assists) and Tim Osborn (13 points). St. Margaret’s, a section finalist in 1990, is paced by freshman Damian Raibon, who averages 14.4 points and 10.4 rebounds.

Also: L.A. Brentwood (18-6) at Capistrano Valley Christian (12-12).

In Division V-A

Lancaster Bethel Christian (17-6) at Liberty Christian (16-6): Will Bethel Christian be more cannon fodder for high-scoring Liberty Christian? Liberty Christian has scored 100 or more points five times this season, including a 100-56 victory over Southeast Lutheran in the first round.