GIRLS’ PREP ROUNDUP : Bolsa Grande Tournament Title Loudly Announces Arrival of Tustin

The advantage to never winning a preseason tournament is that teams aren’t gunning for you later. Tustin knows that, but Saturday’s 44-38 victory over San Clemente in the Bolsa Grande tournament final changed that.

Tustin got 15 points and 18 rebounds from junior Alison Carr, and 12 points and 12 rebounds from tournament most valuable player Sarah Davis, to win its first tournament title.

“We’ve never missed the playoffs, but we’ve always been in tough tournaments and been with one or two monsters,” Tustin Coach Rick Falk said. “We probably won’t be able to sneak up on anybody anymore.”

The Tillers (6-2) are the monsters now. They upset Capistrano Valley in a semifinal, and dueled through 20 ties or lead changes in the first half against the Tritons (6-2). The 21st--Davis’ eight-footer on a long rebound--gave Tustin the lead for good, 29-28, with 7 minutes 20 seconds left in the third quarter.

“These are games we would’ve lost last year,” Falk said. “Last year, we couldn’t hold a lead in the close games.”

San Clemente shot only 23%, and made only one field goal in the third quarter, and two in the fourth.

Carr also had six blocked shots. Joining her on the all-tournament team were San Clemente’s Michelle Macintyre (15 points, eight rebounds) and Shawna Waldner (four points), Capistrano Valley’s Susan Scott, Trabuco Hills’ Lasheika Henderson, Laguna Hills’ Tayyiba Haneff, and Santa Ana’s Nancy Love.

“Alison (Carr) was the difference tonight,” Falk said. “We’ve been waiting for her to have a game like this. Last year, if teams shut down Katie Scheuerman (six points) and Davis, we lose. Katie had an off night tonight.

“They did the best job anyone has anyone has done on Sarah, but I imagine that’s the best job anyone has done on Macintyre.”

In other games of the tournament:

Capistrano Valley 44, Trabuco Hills 34--Cara Heyman had 13 to lead the Cougars to third place.

Magnolia 46, Western 27--The Sentinels (6-2) outscored Western, 25-9, in the second half. Barbara Mathews led Magnolia with 13 points and Andrea Picci had eight points and 10 rebounds. Isabel Rojas scored 13 for Western.

Laguna Hills 50, West Torrance 46--Tayyiba Haneef had 15 points to lead Laguna Hills (4-4).

Santa Ana 49, Cantwell Sacred Heart 48 (OT)--Nancy Love scored 20 points. Karina Gonzalez added 15 points and Tanzenika Holmes had 13 rebounds.

In the El Dorado Coed Classic girls’ basketball tournament:

Corona 44, El Dorado 34--Carrie VanDerPool and Shannon Wantanabe each scored 13 points to lead Corona (7-0) to the championship. Jamie Sweet scored 13, including two three-pointers, for El Dorado (5-1).

Canyon 55, Pomona 40--Dawn Brown had a game-high 17 points for the third-place Comanches (5-3).

Downey 57, Sunny Hills 24--Sunny Hills scored only 14 points in the final three quarters after taking a 10-6 lead. Downey got 14 points from Kelly Black.

In the La Puente Tournament:

La Habra 44, Pico Rivera El Rancho 43--Jo Berchtold scored with 1 1/2 minutes left to give La Habra (4-3) a three-point lead as it held off El Rancho in a first-round game.

In the Orange Lutheran girls’ tournament:

Villa Park 61, Century 44--The Lancers (8-1) won the championship game behind 25 points from Michelle Miyake and 14 from Maureen Skehan. Nina Alexander had 18 points for Century (6-2) and was named tournament most valuable player.

Orange Lutheran 56, Woodcrest Christian 43--Kristin Weddick had 17 points as Orange Lutheran (3-4) won the third-place game.

Covina Western Christian 43, Connelly 31--Sophomore Kristin Cappel had 17 points for Connelly (1-6).

San Bernadino Aquinas 52, Liberty Christian 29--Lynlee Vaccaro had 10 points for Liberty Christian (4-6). San Bernadino Aquinas won the consolation championship.

In the Valley Christian girls’ basketball tournament:

Los Alamitos 59, Artesia 36--Myesha Williams scored 22 and Kris Reyes had 18 points and 10 steals to lead the Griffins (3-4) in the consolation championship game.

In nonleague basketball:

Estancia 63, El Toro 47--Laura Czingula paced Estancia (8-1) with 21 points as the Eagles built a 51-30 lead after three quarters.

Katella 63, Savanna 11--Khalilah Fountaine had 16 points to lead Katella (3-5).

In nonleague games:

Mission Viejo 64, Aliso Niguel 26--Treva Whitaker scored 24 points, including one three-pointer and five steals for Mission Viejo (5-2).