SEA VIEW LEAGUE GIRLS’ BASKETBALL : Tustin’s Tough Defense Tears Apart University

Shooting and working the full-court press with precision, Tustin High School showed why it is the third-ranked team in Orange County by dismantling host University, 72-41, Tuesday night.

The Tillers (14-3, 1-0 in league) shot 60% from the field (63% in the first three quarters when all five starters were playing) and forced University (7-6, 0-1) to commit 26 turnovers.

“They tore us apart piece-by-piece,” University Coach Doug Sorey said.

Tustin did most of its damage in the first and third quarters. After University forward Erica Field opened the scoring with a jump shot, the Trojans hit a dry spell and went scoreless for the next 5 minutes 17 seconds while Tustin ran up 16 consecutive points.

Center Christine Garner (24 points, eight rebounds) and forward Shari Needham (19 points) accounted for 11 (six and five respectively) of those points. Needham finished the quarter with 10 points, including two three-pointers.

The Tillers held a 23-9 lead after one quarter and stretched it to 40-21 by halftime.

They picked up the pace in the third quarter after University had managed to pull within 43-28 by outscoring the Trojans, 23-2, in the final 4:10 of the quarter. Garner had nine of Tustin’s 26 points in the quarter, including the last three on a layup and a free throw.

By then, Tustin Coach Rick Falk figured he had a big enough lead and benched four of his starters, leaving starting point guard Wanda Sequeira (12 points) in the game.

As a result, all 13 Tiller players saw action in the game.

Falk, who was concerned with the way his team performed in a 30-point loss to top-ranked Brea-Olinda in the Costa Mesa Tournament a few days ago, had nothing but praise Tuesday night for the Tillers.

“We can’t play any better than that,” he said. “That’s the most intensity with which we’ve played all year . . . I think they’ve responded correctly to the challenge that if we are going to play with the Breas of this world (the Tillers will) have to pick it up a little.”

For University, forward Tara Wolff had 10 points and six rebounds, and center Christie Loud and forward Stephanie Dittmer, each scored seven points. Loud also had six rebounds.