Tesoro girls find way past San Clemente

San Clemente point guard Kelsey Murphy is fouled as she puts up a shot in the lane during a game between Tesoro and San Clemente at Tesoro High School on Tuesday.
Tesoro's Suhansi Perera is fouled by San Clemente's Kelsey Murphy during a game between Tesoro and San Clemente at Tesoro High School on Tuesday.
San Clemente's Jessica Perry-Romero can't reach a pass during a game between Tesoro and San Clemente at Tesoro High School on Tuesday.
Tesoro's Porsche Nwokeuku takes the ball to the hoop after stealing it from San Clemente's Amy Harris as Harris falls to the floor during a game between Tesoro and San Clemente at Tesoro High School on Tuesday.
Tesoro's Suhansi Perera puts up a fast break layup during a game between Tesoro and San Clemente at Tesoro High School on Tuesday.
Tesoro's Julia Amabile puts up a shot over San Clemente's Nicole Dutch during a game between Tesoro and San Clemente at Tesoro High School on Tuesday.
Tesoro senior Madison Crouch finishes off a fast break as San Clemente's Amy Harris flies by attempting to block the shot during a game between Tesoro and San Clemente at Tesoro High School on Tuesday.

By Nathan Percy | Orange County Register

January 26, 2016 at 10:29 p.m.

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – Trying to keep their South Coast League title hopes alive, the Tesoro and San Clemente girls basketball started off playing at a frenzied pace Tuesday night.

The Titans became more comfortable midway through the first quarter and used San Clemente’s quickened pace to force 20 first-half turnovers en route to a 58-42 win at Tesoro.

“Our second quarter seems to be one of our stronger periods,” Tesoro coach Jim Arneson said. “We get into the flow of the game and the energy level goes up.”

Haley Ison and Suhansi Perera led the Titans with 12 points apiece. Madison Crouch added seven points and five rebounds off the bench.

Tesoro held a 34-10 halftime advantage, but the Tritons (8-13, 1-3) didn’t go quietly, cutting that deficit in half in the fourth quarter.

Jessica Perry-Romero led the Tritons with 13 points, scoring nine of those in the second half. Amy Harris scored eight points off the bench.

“As soon as we settled down, the shots started falling and the turnovers went away,” Tritons coach Kerri Husbands said. “We’re just finding a way to get them to play with that confidence level. We feel they’re close, we’re just looking for that little bit extra.”

San Clemente held a 5-1 lead, but the Titans (12-9, 3-1) adjusted. Ison hit a 3-pointer to spark a 12-0 run. Gianni McGowan’s steal and score made it 13-5 and forced a Tritons timeout.

Tesoro’s defense was relentless as it forced 10 turnovers and held San Clemente scoreless for the first 6:30 of the second quarter. Seven Titans scored in a balanced effort in leading to the halftime score.

San Clemente refocused in the second half. Perry-Romero and Harris combined for 10 points on inside baskets to reduce the deficit to 45-26.

San Clemente got as close as 53-41 before a 3-pointer by Julia Horsager iced the game with 1:38 remaining.

Tesoro sophomore Porsche Nwokeuku added five points and seven rebounds – all in the second half.

“We tried a few different things defensively in the second half and that backfired a bit,” Arneson said. “That’s how we’ll get better. We’ll have something to work on in practice.”

San Clemente faces league-leading Aliso Niguel on Thursday. Tesoro has a bye Thursday and hosts the Wolverines on Feb. 2.