PHOTOS: Tustin makes it three in a row over Foothill with 54-45 non-league victory

Tustin’s Jason Naranjo brings the ball up Thursday as Foothill’s Josh Jamalsco gets ready to defend. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

Tustin High’s boys basketball team notched its third victory in a row over Foothill, defeating the Knights 54-45 in the annual non-league battle of crosstown opponents Thursday night at Tustin.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

Foothill students try and get their team fired up.

Senior guard Jason Naranjo led the Tillers with 23 points.

Tustin's Kyan McCarville is guarded by Foothill's Braedyn Benhard.

Foothill Coach Yousof Etemadi talks with guard Jacob Horton.

Tustin Coach Ringo Bossenmeyer follows a play Thursday night.

Tustin players celebrate after Thursday's win over Foothill.

Senior guard Jason Naranjo scored 23 points and made five 3-pointers to lead the Tillers (10-2). Bradley Burdick added 11 points and Ryan Stading had 10 points for Tustin.

Foothill (6-7) was led by Jacob Horton, who scored 15 points.

“I thought when we kept the game five on five defensively, we did a pretty solid job defensively, obviously they were hurting us on the glass,” said Tustin Coach Ringo Bossenmeyer. “We knew that was going to be the key to keep them to try and keep them off the offensive glass and we tried to battle our way through.

“Obviously, we made some clutch shots tonight at big times and I’m proud of the most that we handled their run. They cut it five or six and we handled that run. We told them it was going to be a game of runs, they made their run and they’re a good team, so we just got to respond and we did.

“I’m really happy for Jason Naranjo. In my 26 years as a head coach, he’s in my top five as far as the hardest working guys as far as the amount of time he puts in and for him to have a game like that in this atmosphere, I’m just really happy for him.”

Tustin led 30-16 at halftime, but Foothill got untracked outscoring the Tillers 15-7 in the third quarter to cut the lead to six going into the final quarter.

But Tustin regained control and finished strong with Naranjo hitting two 3-pointers and 10 points in the final stanza.

“It was a tough first half,” said Foothill’s first year coach Yousof Etemadi. “They came out and they were tougher than us in the first half. They got the crowd going and they made a lot of three’s. And we missed a lot of shots early in the game.

“I thought our boys battled hard and came back and didn’t give up the entire time and gave us a chance to try and get back into it late in the game. And they just kept making big plays and big plays so hats off to them.”

Naranjo and his teammates celebrated on the court after the game, which attracted a large crowd at the Tustin gym.

“I’m not really worried about the points, as long as our team plays together as a unit and we do the things we need to do then that’s all I care about,” said Naranjo. “It doesn’t matter how many points I score, as long as we get the team win, that’s all I’m happy about.

“It means a lot, coming into the game and bringing a lot of energy and we practiced real hard this week.”

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com