Tustin uses tough defense and balanced scoring to get past Century 54-40 in tourney

Tustin Coach Ringo Bossenmeyer talks to his team during a timeout Tuesday. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

Tustin’s boys basketball team used an effective defense and a balanced scoring attack to defeat Century 54-40 Tuesday evening in the Santa Ana Garden Grove Four City Classic at Century.

It was the season opener for Tustin and the second game for Century, which fell to 1-1.

Four players were in double figures for the Tillers. Bradley Burdick, Ben Ahinaquah and Jason Naranjo each had 13 points while Ryan Stading added 11 points. Naranjo had 13 points and the 6-4 Ahinaquah collected seven rebounds.

“I thought our guys were focused, obviously it’s good to go up against somebody other than yourselves,” said Tustin Coach Ringo Bossenmeyer, now in his 20th year of coaching. “It’s good to get a competitive environment. Century is well coached, they’re physical and they do things the right way so it was a good season opener and a good test right off the bat.”

Tustin held a 24-14 lead at halftime and then broke the game open by outscoring Century 18-12 in the third quarter.

“We were trying to go inside as much as we could and play off Bradley Burdick in the post and Ben Ahinaquah in the post,” Bossenmeyer said. “Defensively, we were trying to take them out of their stuff as much as we could.”

Century was led by Tyler Thomas with 18 points and Damian Martinez with 15 points. They were the only two Centurions who scored in double figures.

The tournament continues Wednesday and wraps up Saturday at Santa Ana High.

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