CALABASAS — As the Tustin boys basketball team was walking off the court, Coach Ringo Bossenmeyer motioned to his players and then to the crowd. They instantly saluted the few hundred students and parents that had made the 70-mile hike Tuesday to Calabasas High.
“The Barn” erupted.
The Tillers had just lost to Calabasas, 56-49, in the CIF-SS Division 2A semifinals. But they didn’t go out quietly.
“I couldn’t be prouder of a group,” Bossenmeyer said. “We talked abut it before the year that one of the most fulfilling experiences you can have in life is to do things people don’t think you can do. On more than one occasion, this team has done that.”
The latest instance came in the second half as Tustin erased a 20-point deficit. The Tillers trailed from the opening possession until 1:48 remained in the fourth quarter.
Forward Rob Nelsen, who’d just hit a deep 3-pointer to make it a 1-point game, shrewdly leaned into a Calabasas defender and drew the shooting foul beyond the arc. He made all three free throws to tie the score at 46.
Calabasas quickly regained the lead as guard Jeremy Lieberman drove past the Tustin defense for a layup. Tustin came up blank on its next two possessions while allowing another layup and two free throws. After Nelsen’s 3-pointer made it 52-49, Lieberman made two more free throws to ice it.
Second-seeded Calabasas (26-5) will face top-seeded Sonora in Saturday’s section finals at Honda Center at noon.
Nelsen scored a team-high 16 points, guard T.J. Shorts had 15 and guard Aramie Faletoi had 12.
“We just turned it over too much,” Bossenmeyer said. “But you can’t ask for more fight. They believe that they can win every game.”
Tustin, which won the Division 3AAA title last year, might not be finished this season. The No. 6 seed Tillers (22-8) can earn an at-large berth for the state tournament. Pairings will be released Sunday.
Contact the writer: amaya@ocregister.com
