DIVISION II-AA : Tustin Begins ‘Tiller Time’ With Victory

Just call the Southern Section boys’ basketball playoffs “Tiller Time.”

Tustin has had more than its share of success in postseason play in the last three seasons, earning a 14-2 record and winning the State Division II championship in 1991.

The Tillers have advanced to at least the quarterfinals of the sectional playoffs for three consecutive years and began their drive in Division II-AA Friday night with a convincing 60-45 victory over visiting Mission Viejo.

The victory was the 15th in postseason play over the past four seasons and moves Tustin (15-7) into the second round Tuesday, where the Tillers will meet Inglewood, which advanced with a 59-55 victory over Compton.

Tustin outscored Mission Viejo, 17-2, during a five-minute stretch in the fourth quarter in turning a close game into a rout. The teams were tied, 37-37, early in the fourth quarter when forward Rod Scheuerman and guard Doug Gottlieb led the Tillers on a tear.

Gottlieb ignited the rally with a key three-point shot that pushed Tustin ahead, 46-37, with 5 minutes 29 seconds remaining to play and Scheuerman spelled the end for Mission Viejo (11-14) by making two follow shots and hitting a pair of free throws down the stretch.

“Gottlieb’s shot was huge,” Mission Viejo Coach Joe Reid said. “We get a great job of getting back into the game in the third quarter, but we couldn’t hit a perimeter shot in the fourth quarter to save our lives.

“We haven’t had any perimeter shooting all year. Tustin was one step too quick for us at every position. Gottlieb did a great job of penetrating. He’s a very good sophomore.”

Tustin was in control throughout the first half. The Tillers made 12 of 20 shots in the half despite having problems containing Mission Viejo’s 6-foot-8 center, David Bayer. But the Tillers’ eight-point halftime lead disappeared in the third quarter when Bayer and teammate Jeff Carr got hot.

Bayer’s follow shot with 1:20 remaining moved Mission Viejo within a point, 34-33, but Tustin’s Jeff Aguilar answered with a three-point shot 22 seconds later to move Tustin ahead, 37-33.

The teams were tied, 37-37, after Bayer scored on a short jumper, before Tustin broke the game open. The Tillers made eight of 13 shots and six of 11 free throws in the fourth quarter to offset Bayer.

Bayer had lost 20 pounds since having gall bladder surgery only a month ago. But he scored 26 points, had nine rebounds.

“I had no idea that he was that good,” said Tustin Coach Andy Ground. “I knew he could board, but I didn’t realize he could shoot like that. Our plan was to stop Carr from the get go.

“Everyone told me he was the player that makes Mission Viejo go. If he’s penetrating, they’re really tough. But we also knew that they weren’t a good shooting team, so we went to the zone and packed it in.

“I thought the three-pointers that Aguilar and Gottlieb hit really gave us a lift. It also helped that (Jason) Reynolds and (DeJuan) Matthews finally played some defense in the fourth quarter.”