Tustin Rolls Past Buena Park

Tustin certainly picked the right time for an easy game.

The Tillers were a banged-up crew strolling into Buena Park High on Tuesday. Two key reserves had been injured during practice Monday. Will Smith sprained an ankle, and DeShawn Foster was lost for the rest of the season after taking an elbow in the face, breaking a couple of bones.

But the county’s second-ranked team, and second-seeded team in the section Division II-A playoffs, had no trouble with the host Coyotes, cruising to a 75-52 victory.

Tustin (25-3) will face San Bernardino Pacific in the quarterfinals on Friday. Buena Park’s season ended at 16-13.

A 28-10 Tiller second-quarter pounding went a long way in subduing Buena Park. Tustin’s lead peaked at 67-26 before the Tillers took their foot off the throttle.

The Tillers were led guard Robert Griffin, who had 30 of his 31 points in the first three quarters. David Lalazarian added 27, and guard Ray Hobbs had 13.

“The first half and part of the third quarter we played hard and tough,” Tustin Coach Andy Ground said. “After that the game got a bit sloppy.”

The only time Buena Park stayed close was the first quarter, when they trailed 17-10 following the first eight minutes. Over the next two quarters, however, Tustin went on a 50-23 scoring spree, primarily through Griffin and Lalazarian.

Griffin had his choice of driving past the Coyote guards for easy layups or dropping in three-pointers, of which he made making four in nine attempts. Lalazarian controlled the inside, breaking away for a couple of thunderous dunks and layins, and blocking five shots. He made life especially miserable for Buena Park forward Courtney Smith, holding Smith to six points on 1-for-11 shooting from the field.

Brian McDonald led the Coyotes with 11 points.

“They deceived us with their quickness,” Buena Park Coach Ed Matillo said. “And in the second quarter they played the way they can, which was exactly what we didn’t want. But sometimes it isn’t what you do, but what the other guy does.

“But losing to Tustin doesn’t take away from our year. Sixteen wins is pretty good for this program.

Even though the game was in hand early, the loss of Smith and Foster weakened the Tustin bench enough that Ground had to keep Griffin and Lalazarian in the game until midway through the fourth quarter.

In other Division II-A games:

Compton Dominguez 94, Ocean View 60--Trailing at halftime, Dominguez (27-2) outscored host Ocean View 59-24 in the second half. Jason Thomas scored 28 points to lead Dominguez.

Jason Martini scored 14 points for Ocean View (13-16).

San Bernardino Pacific 68, Laguna Hills 57--The Hawks trailed by two to start the fourth quarter, but were then outscored, 23-14, by visiting Pacific (24-4). Mike Scaglione scored 24 points and Saia Makakaufaki added 17 for Laguna Hills (18-9).

Inglewood 94, Valencia 58--Valencia fell behind by 20 after the first quarter and 28 at the half. Kevin Jackley scored 16 points to lead the Tigers (16-11). Jason Hart had 29 points for Inglewood (25-3).

Lakewood Artesia 76, Troy 60--Jon Torres finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for Troy (18-10), which fell behind by 14 points after the first quarter at Artesia (23-5).