Tustin defeats Kennedy 50-44 and celebrates outright Empire League crown

Tustin players along with head Coach Claire Gocke and assistant coaches Bryan Speer and Rocky Anderson celebrate winning the Empire League title. (Photo courtesy Tustin athletics, For OC Sports Zone)

The celebration was on at Tustin High as the Tillers’ girls basketball team captured the outright Empire League title with a 50-44 victory over Kennedy Thursday night.

It was senior night as Savannah Thorn, Lisbeth Cabrera, Kylie Pulsifer and Ahzira Faletoi were honored before the game.

Alyssa Norada had 18 points and Ahzira Faletoi had 12 points to lead Tustin (23-5, 9-1).

The players and coaches celebrated by cutting down the net at one of the baskets at Tustin.

It’s the third league championship in Coach Claire Gocke’s eight years. The Tillers also took titles in 2015, 2017 and 2020.

“Clinching a league title after our win vs. Pacifica just felt anticlimactic and my kids felt like they had unfinished business. They did not want to share a league title this year,” Gocke said.

“I catch a lot of heat for being competitive and coaching every player, one through 12, to play hard and capitalize on opportunities from the jump ball to the final buzzer, but we do our best as a coaching staff to run our program like a college program and push our kids to be the best they can be – not only at this level, but also to bridge the gap for those fortunate enough to play after high school.

“It’s been a monumental season so far: junior point guard Alyssa Norada scoring her 1,000th point, getting 150th career (coaching) win, and winning the Empire League.

“I’m thrilled for my kids, I’m just happy for them; they worked hard and wanted it – they signed the board in the team room before day one of league saying they were ‘all in’ and they did what they had to do to accomplish that first goal. We are looking forward to continuing to put in the work and make a run in playoffs.”