Tustin Stays in Title Race With Overtime Victory

When Ocean View’s Anna Lembke fouled out 22 seconds into overtime, Tustin’s LaToya Rucker knew the game was decided. And she was right.

Rucker & Co. stayed a game behind first-place Westminster in the Golden West League with a 58-43 overtime victory Thursday over visiting Ocean View.

The Tillers (19-4, 7-1) overcame a 17-point deficit midway in the second quarter and outscored the Seahawks, 15-0, in the four-minute overtime.

“I knew it was ours,” Rucker said of Lembke’s early departure and the eventual outcome.

Lembke left with 12 rebounds and 24 points on nine-of-14 shooting and she took with her any hopes for a necessary victory to ensure an automatic Division III-A playoff berth for the Seahawks (3-5, 10-14). They need to finish third, but are two out with two to play.

Rucker (nine points) did her part from the fourth quarter on. She drew a questionable foul on Lembke with 5:01 left, and her two free throws provided Tustin with its first lead, 36-35. She followed with a steal and three-point play that made it 39-35.

Rucker also guarded Lembke, the county’s leading shooter, who got only one fourth-quarter shot.

Ocean View, with 28 seconds left, forced overtime on Mara Sheppard’s third three-pointer, tying the score at 43.

But Lembke fouled Brook Brown (14 points, 15 rebounds) from behind in overtime, the second of three Seahawks to foul out.

Susana Jara (four steals) scored 19 for Tustin.

“We’re good, but we’re not so good that we can’t show up,” said Tustin Coach Steve Dunmyer. “Our second-half adjustment was in intensity.”

Tustin, five of 26 from the floor in the first half, was 12 of 22 in the second. It made 20 of 33 free-throws; Ocean View made eight of 13.

In other league games:

No. 10 Westminster 75, Santa Ana 28--Tara Moore and Erin Arganda scored 13 each for Westminster (21-4, 8-0). Five players fouled out for Santa Ana (2-20, 0-8), which fielded three players the final minute.

Rosary 56, Saddleback 36--Romina Bollini scored 12 and Sarah Belavic 10 for Rosary (14-10, 5-3). Saddleback is 6-18, 1-7.