Tustin's playoff run comes to end
IRVINE — The playoff run and a nine-game winning streak came to an end for the Tustin boys water polo team Wednesday night in the CIF-SS Division 6 semifinals at Beckman High.
An overwhelming defensive effort by third-seeded Temescal Canyon (23-9) propelled the Titans to a 10-3 victory over Tustin (24-6).
The Titans will make their first championship game appearance against top-seeded Beaumont, a 10-9 winner over Oaks Christian in the other semifinal, on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Woollett Center.
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Also coming to an end was the Tillers' streak of double-figure wins at nine.
"Nobody expected us to go this far," longtime Tustin coach Boyd Philpot said. "We have a very young and inexperienced team, not in terms of seniority, but very few of them have played club (water polo)."
It only took Temescal Canyon 10 seconds into the game to score its first goal, by junior attacker Jesse Hayward. Hayward and junior Devin Deckert had three goals apiece.
Tustin goalie Luis Martinez kept the Tillers in the game throughout the first half, making many point-blank saves. The senior keeper, a recent OCVarsity.com water polo athlete of the week, kept Tustin down a goal.
However, Temescal kept pressure on the Tillers' top scorer, senior Gabriel John, who had scored 11 goals in the playoffs through two games.
Trailing 3-0 in the second quarter, John scored at the 3:30 mark on a man-advantage, to close within two, 3-1.
"For getting this far for as small as a team that we had, it feels great," said John, a senior attacker. He scored twice and his brother Matt John had one. It came midway through the third quarter to close within two goals, 4-2.
Temescal broke the game open in the fourth quarter with six goals.
"Tonight I think they (Tustin) were a little pressured with the weight of the game," added Philpot.
