Beckman holds off late charge by Tustin and wins nonleague game 61-55 (video)

A boys basketball rematch Wednesday night between Beckman and Tustin was closer than the first game.

But Beckman was still able to get past Tillers for the second time this year 61-55 in a non-league game at Tustin.

Beckman defeated Tustin 60-40 in the So Cal Elite Gary Raya Classic on Dec. 15 at Northwood.

“That’s a typical kind of Tustin game,” said Beckman Coach John Goins. “We let them dictate what was going on. They had their defensive plan coming and we need to be able to adjust to what they’re doing.

“In the first half, we weren’t. We were a little better in the second half. We have difficulty sometimes accepting the pressure that teams put on us and Tustin put a lot of pressure on. We had success when they were in their press. We did just enough and that’s all that matters this time of year.”

Junior guard Dylan Thoerner led Beckman (7-8) with 22 points, including 16 in the second half. Charlie Lee added 14 points for Beckman.

Beckman’s Dylan Thoerner (22 points) talks about the Patriots 61-55 victory over Tustin tonight. pic.twitter.com/lCwoMCgZ5K

— Tim Burt (@TimBurtIrvine) January 4, 2018

Tustin (7-7) was led by Isaiah Gonzalez, who scored 27 points and Brian Ramirez, who had 14 points.

“Obviously it was a much more competitive game tonight than a couple weeks ago,” said Tustin Coach Ringo Bossenmeyer. “We had it down to a two possession game on multiple occasions down the stretch but had a crucial defensive breakdown and an unforced turnover. That will not get it done against talented and well coached teams like Beckman. Isaiah Gonzalez’ will to win was exceptional tonight.”

The Tillers led 21-19 at halftime but Beckman outscored Tustin 20-15 in the third quarter to take a three-point lead into the final quarter.

Beckman moved ahead by nine points in the final quarter before Tustin rallied, cutting the lead to four points in the final minutes.

But Thoerner sank two free throws with 28.5 seconds left to seal the win.

“We definitely struggled in the first half, but coach got on us and I think we played a lot more assertive and we didn’t let their pressure get to us as much,” Thoerner said. “We started to play our game and take the initiative instead of second guessing ourselves and it paid off. We scored a lot more.”

Beckman defeated Tustin 61-55 in a nonleague game at Tustin. Here’s a brief highlight in the fourth quarter with Tustin’s Jerome Childs scoring on one end and Beckman’s Dylan Thoerner scoring at the other end. pic.twitter.com/Bl952USrDx

— Tim Burt (@TimBurtIrvine) January 4, 2018

Beckman competed in the KSA Events Holiday Tournament in Orlando last week but was winless in three games. However, Thoerner scored a school record 36 points in a 62-56 loss to Barnabas Christian Academy, breaking the previous Patriots’ record of 33 held by Michael Yee in 2016.

Thoerner had 14 points in the fourth quarter “on perfect shooting,” Goins said.