Girls’ Basketball: CdM falls behind against Tustin
TUSTIN — When the Lady Tiller Tournament resumed on Friday afternoon, it was to provide further evidence to the value of experience.
The Corona del Mar High’s girls’ basketball team was as outmatched in that area as it was on the scoreboard against the host school.
Devyn Barner filled the stat sheet with 15 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and four steals, as the Tillers pounded the Sea Kings, 73-30, at Tustin High.
Caylee Hermanson added 15 points, three assists, and three rebounds, and Bianca Barajas had 13 points and four rebounds.
A lifetime of playing together will certainly help with player chemistry, and that can be said about Barner and Barajas.
“Bianca and I have been playing since the fourth grade together.”
Then there are those who come with a good sporting pedigree. Tustin’s Lilly Ballestero would fit that bill, as she is one of eight kids in a well-known basketball family.
One of her older sisters, Michele, recently made deep runs in CIF with Canyon, and the Tillers (5-2) look like a team that is capable of making their own noise in the playoffs.
The senior guard had seven points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals on Friday, and there is another Ballestero waiting in the wings. Toni, a freshman, saw minutes late in the blowout, and she was the last Tiller to get on the scoresheet.
“The majority of us are returners, and we’re able to play with each other well,” Barner said. “We’re able to accommodate each other in how we play together.”
“It translates on the court. We’re able to figure things out and just play basketball.”
Corona del Mar coach Brason Alexander is preaching patience as his team takes the necessary time to figure things out themselves.
The Sea Kings are starting two sophomores, a new point guard, and a lacrosse player.
Jensen Coop is the lacrosse player. Playing defense without fouling has been an issue for her. The same applies to Mallory McCrane, who is a first-time basketball player.
“Jensen’s doing a better job,” Alexander said. “In the fall, she was fouling out in five minutes. Now, she’s playing longer and just getting caught in funky spots.”
“They just need time. I have to be patient, and everyone else has to be patient with them.”
Execution comes and goes when a team is learning to play together. The Tillers ran away from Corona del Mar when the Sea Kings (1-6) hit an extended dry spell from the field.
Two driving layups by Samantha Uehara helped CdM start the game on equal terms, 7-7, through the first five minutes.
A three-point play by Barajas began an avalanche of a run for the Tillers. They outscored the Sea Kings, 25-3, over the next eight minutes.
“The biggest thing that killed us is that they shot layups off of either straight drives or one pass,” Alexander said. “That’s us being young and not recognizing things.”
Tustin led, 36-12, at halftime. It held a 53-24 advantage after the third quarter.
As rough as the nonleague season has been thus far for Corona del Mar, Alexander pointed out that recent results are not representative of the finish line.
“I’m not really worried about one game right now. We’re building for January 10th,” he said, referring to the start of the Pacific Coast League. “Our record now is 1-6, but we’re 0-0 in league.”
Tatiana Bruening paced the Sea Kings with 10 points and eight rebounds. It could have been more, but she was just two for nine from the free-throw line.
Tia Grippo added eight points in the loss.
Tustin Lady Tiller Tournament
Tustin 73, Corona del Mar 30
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Corona del Mar – 7 - 5 - 12 - 6 – 30
Tustin – 16 - 20 - 17 - 20 – 73
CdM – T. Bruening 10, Grippo 8, Beador 4, Uehara 4, Coburn 2, Halafuka 2.
3-pt. goals – Grippo 1.
Fouled out – Coop.
Technicals – None.
Tus – Barner 15, Hermanson 15, Barajas 13, H. Pauu 11, L. Ballestero 7, S. Pauu 4, Thorn 2, Cuellar 2, Ek 2, T. Ballestero 2.
3-pt. goals – Barajas 2.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
