BOYS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Gottlieb Leads Tustin Past Trabuco Hills

Doug Gottlieb sparked Tustin’s 52-point, second-half performance as the Tillers beat Trabuco Hills, 89-70, in the championship game of the In-N-Out Burger/Converse Classic Saturday at Capistrano Valley High.

Gottlieb, named the tournament most valuable player, scored 14 points in the second quarter and finished with 20.

“Tustin’s defensive pressure was there from the outset,” Trabuco Hills Coach Rainer Wolf said. “We had too many turnovers, and it disrupted our flow.”

Trabuco Hills took an 11-5 lead behind Nick Punto’s three-pointer, and increased it to 14-7 on Laquent Fobbs’ three-pointer.

“We have some lightning-powered offense, and we can score in bunches,” Wolf said. “But the turnovers quickly took us out of our rhythm.”

Tustin center David Lalazarian had 21 points and 12 rebounds. His quick outlet passes set up easy baskets by Aaron Krause, who finished with 18.

Trabuco Hills managed to cut Tustin’s lead to three at 51-48 with 2 minutes 35 seconds remaining in the third quarter on Jonathon Paisley’s jumper.

A 14-6 run by Tustin quickly widened the lead to 65-48.

Paisley led Trabuco Hills with 19 points, followed by Rob Warnick’s 16.