San Clemente Can’t Overcome Turnbull Injury

Facing the top-seeded team didn’t seem to faze San Clemente, but losing its top player early in the second quarter eventually took its toll.

With the Tritons’ Colleen Turnbull sidelined with a sprained ankle, San Clemente went scoreless for a 10-minute stretch in the second half and Los Angeles Palisades rallied for a 53-40 victory in the first-round of the Southern California Division I girls’ basketball playoffs Tuesday at Palisades High.

Junior guard April Freeney scored 16 points, Nicole Funn added 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Leilani Estavan had 15 points for top-seeded Palisades, which advanced to host Oceanside El Camino Thursday.

Palisades (27-4) trailed, 30-18, with six minutes remaining in the third quarter before it made its big push. The Dolphins scored 25 consecutive points in 10 minutes to move ahead, 43-30, midway through the fourth quarter before coasting to the victory.

It was an unfortunate ending for San Clemente (23-10).

The Tritons raced to an early 10-point lead, then even after Turnbull left the game with the injury two minutes into the second quarter, San Clemente responded with a 13-0 run to take a 26-13 lead.

“We’re used to playing the top teams,� San Clemente Coach Mary Mulligan said. “We’re used to playing on the road. My girls came in here knowing they could win.�

San Clemente’s second-half frustration finally boiled over when Mulligan received a technical foul with 30 seconds remaining and Palisades comfortably ahead, 52-40.