Defense Helps Pacifica Come Back Again : Division III: Victory over University of San Diego High, 60-55, puts Mariners in State final for first time.

After sleepwalking through the first half Saturday, Pacifica’s pressure defense woke up with a vengeance, helping the Mariners to a 60-55 victory over University of San Diego High in the Southern California Regional Division III boys’ basketball final at Anaheim Arena.

Trailing by 11 points at halftime, the Mariners’ defense forced nine third-quarter turnovers, and Chris Vlasic made eight free throws in the final 1 minute 8 seconds to lead Pacifica to the come-from-behind victory.

Pacifica rallied from a 20-point deficit Thursday to defeat San Diego St. Augustine in the semifinals. Saturday, Vlasic, Jon Surface and Erik Maurer each scored 15 points, and Ramon Alliman had 13 to lead the Mariners (30-1).

Pacifica advanced to the school’s first State final next Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

“Every coach, every player, has a dream to get to Oakland,” Pacifica Coach Bob Becker said. “We’re living our dreams now.”

But the game started as a nightmare for Pacifica.

Maurer was playing on a sprained ankle and Vlasic, the team’s leading scorer, had the flu.

And the entire team looked sick early, committing 13 first-half turnovers as USDHS sliced through Pacifica’s press. The Dons had 10 layups in the first half and pounded the offensive boards to outrebound Pacifica, 41-20, for the game.

Josh Merrill, a 6-foot-9 forward who has signed with Pepperdine, finished with 17 points and six rebounds, and Clint Cummings, who had 16 points and eight rebounds, helped the Dons handle Pacifica’s pressure flawlessly . . . for a half.

Pacifica opened the second half with one of their trademark blitzes, and Vlasic’s three-pointer from the left wing with 5 1/2 minutes remaining in the third quarter capped an 8-0 run to cut the Dons’ lead to 35-32.

“We didn’t take care of the ball in the second half,” USDHS Coach Jim Tomey said. “Pacifica relentlessly stuck with their defense.”

Then Alliman made one of the game’s biggest plays with 2:54 remaining in the third quarter. He took possession of the ball in the post, spun to his left and scored while drawing Merrill’s fourth foul. Alliman’s free throw tied the score, 39-39, and sent Merrill to the bench.

Pacifica’s perimeter defense continued to hound the Dons, forcing turnovers on the next three possessions. When USDHS went inside, Pacifica center Shane Miller, who had six blocked shots, was usually there to greet the Dons.

But Miller couldn’t stop Merrill, who returned midway through the fourth quarter and gave USDHS its last lead, 51-50, scoring on a layup with 2:54 remaining.

Alliman answered with a basket on a drive with 2:12 left to play, and Cummings made one of two free throws for USDHS to tie it, 52-52 with 2:05 left.

Then Vlasic made his clutch free throws.

After Merrill missed a dunk with 1:30 remaining, Vlasic was fouled in the post, then made both ends of a one-and-one with 1:08 to play. He made both ends of three one-and-ones in the final 29.5 seconds to push the lead to 60-52.

“USDHS is a great team,” Becker said. “They won 28 games, and they really put pressure on you. If you don’t have a point guard, you’re dead. It’s over.

“Luckily, we have Dean Vergara, who’s as good as anyone.”

And right now, the Mariners are playing their best.