Turnbull Leads Way for Tritons

MISSION VIEJO — San Clemente junior Colleen Turnbull had a career night Tuesday as she led the Tritons to a 65-59 victory over Moreno Valley in a Southern Section Division I-A girls’ basketball semifinal game.

Turnbull, a 5-10 center, broke a school record and scored the 1,000th point of her career while helping her team reach the finals this weekend.

Turnbull set a single-season record for most field goals with 189. The previous record was set by Michelle MacIntyre with 180.

With 5 minutes 24 seconds left in the first half, Turnbull scored her 1,000th career point. She finished the night with 25 points, giving her 1,012.

“I told her before the game, ‘You need 13 points and nine rebounds, but don’t settle for that,’ ” San Clemente Coach Mary Mulligan said.

Turnbull didn’t. She finished with 25 points and nine rebounds, hitting 10 of 17 from the field and three of four from the line.

“I wasn’t thinking about it,” Turnbull said. “I just wanted to beat them.”

The Tritons outscored Moreno Valley, 12-6, in the fourth quarter.

Turnbull managed seven points in the quarter, including a three-point play with 5:29 remaining that put the Tritons up for good, 60-55.

The Tritons (27-4) took a 13-6 lead with 3:42 left in the first quarter despite losing starting forward Taryn Commins, who injured her ankle with 6:47 left in the first quarter.

Moreno Valley (26-4) began to exploit its size advantage. With 6-2 center Nacol Beaudion, 5-11 forward Melissa Anderson, and 6-2 reserve center Andrea Bills, the Vikings got the ball in low and went on a 15-8 run to tie the score after one quarter, 23-23.

Moreno Valley led at halftime, 39-35. Bills scored 11 of her 13 points in the quarter.

“The first half our defense was concentrating on [Tysell] Bozeman,” Turnbull said. “We picked it up all around in the second half and shut them down.”

Bozeman was limited to 17 points and four rebounds.

The Tritons will play Marina in the championship, with the day and time to be announced today.