Third quarter burst lifts Marina past Tillers 56-41 in Tustin Classic

Marina players, including leading scorer Robert Aguirre (No. 22) celebrate after Tuesday’s win. (Photos: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Marina’s boys basketball team went on a 13-3 run to start the third quarter and went on to defeat Tustin 56-41 in a second round consolation game of the Tustin Classic Tuesday at Tustin.

Tustin (12-4) jumped out to a 5-0 start before Marina (11-4) got untracked.

The teams were tied 19-19 at halftime.

“When you have shooters, you’re going to have bad nights shooting, we’re just trying to hang around when we have those bad nights,” said Marina Coach Nick Racklin. “We got it going in the second half.”

Marina was led by senior guard Robert Aguirre who scored 18 points and made six 3-pointers.

“It was good for him because we had a couple games where we were missing his shooting and aggressiveness,” Racklin said.

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

Senior Eric Hodgins added 11 points and made three 3-pointers and senior Kylle Magdangal scored 10 points for the Vikings, who are hoiping to return to the CIF finals again this year after losing to Glendora 53-50 in the 3A finals last season.

“Our point guard Kylle Magdangal has done a great job the last two days, he had 18 points for us yesterday against Chaparral,” Racklin said. “He makes us go and he makes everyone else run the floor, so it’s good to have him in transition.”

Tustin, fell behind 8-6 after the first quarter, came back strong in the second quartert to tie the game going into the second half.

But the Tillers could not close out the game in the second half.

Eli Nyeazi scored 10 points and Ernest Love seven to lead Tustin.

“As a team, we are learning the hard way that when you play teams of the caliber of Tesoro and Marina that if your defensive focus and rotations aren’t razor sharp their shooters will make you pay,” said Tustin Coach Ringo Bossenmeyer.

“This becomes especially important when you are struggling to score yourself. We will take the difficult lessons and continue to grow as a unit on both ends of the floor.”

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