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  • The Tustin team huddles before Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1AA...

    The Tustin team huddles before Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1AA quarterfinal against Long Beach Millikan at Tustin.

  • Tustin's George Wilson shoots a free throw during his 23-point...

    Tustin's George Wilson shoots a free throw during his 23-point performance in Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1AA quarterfinal victory against visiting Long Beach Millikan.

  • Tustin's T.J. Shorts shoots a free throw during Friday night's...

    Tustin's T.J. Shorts shoots a free throw during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1AA quarterfinal against Long Beach Millikan at Tustin.

  • Tustin's T.J. Shorts, center, goes through traffic for a layup...

    Tustin's T.J. Shorts, center, goes through traffic for a layup while Long Beach Millikan's Jamal Bogan, Justin Chambers and Thomas Pua look on during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1AA quarterfinal at Tustin. Tustin won, 64-60.

  • From left, Tustin's Aramie Faletoi, Long Beach Millikan's William English,...

    From left, Tustin's Aramie Faletoi, Long Beach Millikan's William English, Tustin's Josh DeBest and Myles Garvin compete for a rebound during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1AA quarterfinal at Tustin.

  • Tustin's T.J. Shorts, left, celebrates a 3-pointer against Long Beach...

    Tustin's T.J. Shorts, left, celebrates a 3-pointer against Long Beach Millikan made by Josh DeBest, right, during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1AA quarterfinal at Tustin.

  • Tustin's George Wilson dunks against Long Beach Millikan as fans...

    Tustin's George Wilson dunks against Long Beach Millikan as fans celebrate during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1AA quarterfinal at Tustin. Tustin won, 64-60.

  • Tustin head coach Ringo Bossenmeyer directs his team during Friday...

    Tustin head coach Ringo Bossenmeyer directs his team during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1AA quarterfinal against Long Beach Millikan at Tustin.

  • Long Beach Millikan's Jamal Bogan, left, attempts to block a...

    Long Beach Millikan's Jamal Bogan, left, attempts to block a layup by Tustin's George Wilson during the CIF-SS 1AA quarterfinals at Tustin on Friday.

  • Tustin fans respond to cheers from Long Beach Millikan fans...

    Tustin fans respond to cheers from Long Beach Millikan fans during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1AA quarterfinal at Tustin.

  • Tustin head coach Ringo Bossenmeyer argues a foul called against...

    Tustin head coach Ringo Bossenmeyer argues a foul called against one of his players during Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1AA quarterfinal against Long Beach Millikan at Tustin.

  • Tustin's T.J. Shorts and Aramie Faletoi celebrate after defeating Long...

    Tustin's T.J. Shorts and Aramie Faletoi celebrate after defeating Long Beach Millikan, 64-60, in Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1AA quarterfinal at Tustin.

  • Tustin cheerleaders and fans celebrate a 64-60 win over Long...

    Tustin cheerleaders and fans celebrate a 64-60 win over Long Beach Millikan in Friday night's CIF-SS Division 1AA quarterfinal at Tustin.

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Tim Burt. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 31, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

TUSTIN – Tustin’s boys basketball team has been pointing for a return trip to the semifinal round of the CIF-SS playoffs for a while.

Friday night, the No. 3 Tillers punched their ticket with a 64-60 victory over Long Beach Millikan in the quarterfinal round of the 1AA playoffs in front of a near-capacity crowd in the Tustin High gym.

It was the 20th consecutive victory for Tustin (27-2) , which will meet No. 2 seed Village Christian of Sun Valley on Tuesday night at Village Christian.

“We’re fired up to be going back to the semifinals,” Tustin coach Ringo Bossenmeyer said after his team survived a late charge by Millikan (20-9).

Bossenmeyer knows what it’s like to take his team to the semis. The Tillers won the CIF 3AAA title in 2013 and last year lost to Calabasas in the 2A semis.

Tustin, led by the 23-point performance of George Wilson, wasn’t about to be denied another trip. Myles Garvin had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Josh DeBest (three, 3-pointers) and T.J. Shorts had 12 points each for the Tillers.

The 5-foot-8 Shorts also had nine rebounds.

“It’s real big to get back to the semifinals again because we feel we have unfinished business back there,” said Wilson, who also had eight rebounds. “We would get up on them by 9 and 11 and they would come back, but at the end of the day, we got the job done.”

Tustin held a 46-40 lead after three quarters but Millikan battled back, cutting the lead to 63-60 with 50 seconds left on a 3-pointer by by Bryndon Wilson.

Following a Tustin turnover, Millikan was unable to convert a 3-point attempt and DeBest rebounded. DeBest was fouled and made one of two free throws to make it 64-60 with 11.6 seconds remaining.

A desperation 3-pointer then went off the rim and Garvin rebounded for Tustin to seal the win.

“Going into the game, I knew if we got down by eight or 10 points, the game would be so fast you would get back in it,” Bossenmeyer said. “And I also knew if we were up, they could close the gap in a hurry, which is what happened.

“They turn other team’s turnovers into points better than any team we’ve played this year.”

Contact the writer: tburt@ocregister.com