SEA VIEW LEAGUE BOYS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Santa Margarita Rolls Past Tustin, 55-33

Despite having two key players afflicted with the flu, Santa Margarita could do no wrong Friday and defeated visiting Tustin, 55-33.

The victory gave Santa Margarita (15-4, 7-0 in league) a two-game lead over Tustin (12-7, 5-2) in the Sea View League with the teams at the halfway point in league play.

“Right now the worst part is that we have to do it all over again,” Santa Margarita Coach Jerry DeBusk said.

Nevertheless, Santa Margarita learned Friday that its zone defense can be as effective as its man-to-man defense.

With Brian Finneran and Derek Yankoff slowed by the flu, DeBusk employed the zone defense.

“We haven’t played much zone this season,” DeBusk said. “But tonight we were able to use it to get those guys a breather, and it just kept working for us.”

The Tillers were able to hang with Santa Margarita in the first quarter, as the teams tied, 10-10.

But Tustin was held to three points in the second quarter, as the Eagles built a 27-13 lead.

“(Tustin) has some good shooters, and that scared me,” DeBusk said. “I was kind of worried they’d get some shots off in our zone defense, but things just seemed to work out.”

Tustin went on a 7-0 run to start the second half, but Santa Margarita answered with a 7-1 run, taking a 37-27 lead to the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Brian Finneran scored four points and had three assists, while Brad Finneran scored 10 points, as Santa Margarita put away Tustin.

Brian Finneran finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, and Brad Finneran had 20 points.

Tustin’s Doug Gottlieb, who scored 42 points against Woodbridge on Wednesday, was held to a team-high 10 points.

“He was a major concern of ours,” DeBusk said. “He and (Jeff) Aguilar are tremendous shooters, but the zone was able to hold them.”

In other Sea View League games:

Irvine 54, Corona del Mar 47--Greg Foster scored 16 points and Ryan Corbin added 15 for Irvine (8-11, 3-4). Irvine outscored Corona del Mar, 20-10, in the fourth quarter. Dan MacMillan led Corona del Mar (11-8, 3-4) with 17 points.

Saddleback 65, Woodbridge 59--Senior guard Chris Bradshaw led Saddleback (7-11, 2-5) with 27 points and 11 rebounds. Mel Lete added 20 for the Roadrunners. Chris Talbott had 14 points for Woodbridge (7-11, 1-6).

University 78, Newport Harbor 76 (OT)--Dustin White and Ali Amiri each made one free throw in the final 19 seconds for visiting University (11-7, 4-3). White scored 24 points and Demitrius Zeigler scored 22 for University. Paul Tayyar had 20 for the Sailors (10-9, 3-4).