Tesoro boys basketball team celebrates program’s eighth league title

Tesoro players and coaches celebrate after the Titans won the league title Friday night. (Photo courtesy Tesoro basketball).

Tesoro High School’s boys basketball team captured the South Coast League title Friday night, defeating San Clemente 61-59 in overtime at San Clemente.

It’s the eighth league title for Tesoro, according to Coach Steve Garrett. The Titans have won the crown three of the last four years.

“Last year with predominantly all 10th graders we were 1-7 in league,” Garrett said Saturday. “Now with just one senior, seven juniors and three sophomores these guys made huge strides over the past nine months.”

Jake Bennett scored 14 points to lead the Titans (21-5, 6-1). Carson Brown scored 13 points and hit the game-winning shot with nine seconds remaining.

Blake Manning and Kyle Gleason had 12 points each for the Titans. Nathan Draper had five points and played great defense for Tesoro.

“This title is a tribute to these young men and their love and commitment to each other. They want to be coached and they embrace every challenge we’ve put before them. Also, they are getting the right message at home. The parents are supportive of the decisions of our coaching staff and allow their boys to be coached up.

“There is nothing more rewarding in my professional career than seeing the joy on the faces of the boys knowing they accomplished something together.” 

Tesoro wraps up the regular season on Tuesday, hosting Trabuco Hills then gets ready for the CIF playoffs the following week.