Tesoro boys basketball team, off to 12-2 start, prepares for Tustin Classic

Carson Brown (left) and Blake Manning have led Tesoro’s basketball team. (Photo courtesy Tesoro Basketball).

Tesoro’s boys basketball team has jumped out to a 12-2 start and looks to be one of the favorites to capture the title at the Tustin Classic next week.

The Titans, coached by Steve Garrett, will take on Tustin, also 12-2 and a team that could win the title too in the opening game of the 16-team tournament Monday at 9 a.m.

Eight games are planned for the opening day.

“We’re off to a good start,” Garrett said. “All these guys were sophomores last year. We got it handed to us as a coaching staff and as a team. It’s cool to see their work ethic from the off-season pay off. The kids from our JV team improved and so I’m real happy for them.

“Hopefully we can keep it rolling. You got to keep improving. We have a good league too. We’re just trying to prepare for league. Between San Clemente, Capo (Valley), Trabuco (Hills) and Mission (VIejo), it’s a good league.”

Junior captains Carson Brown and Blake Manning, both guards, have led the Titans. Brown is averaging 20.4 points a game and Manning 12.2 and 5.4 assists a contest.

“Blake is leading us with about five and a half assists a game and Carson is leading us in scoring and both are leading us by controlling the game and their leadership, they both worked they’re tails off this off-season,” Garrett said.

Three other juniors: 6-7 forward Jake Bennett, 6-5 guard Kyle Gleason and 6-3 guard Nathan Draper round out the starting five.

“I have 11 guys, I pretty much play everybody,” Garrett said.

Tesoro won its only game this week, defeating Laguna Hills 82-39 in the North-South Challenge Tuesday. Brown scored 22 points, Gleason had 13 points, Manning had nine assists and six points and the team’s only senior Isaiah Viajar had a season high 10 points and played outstanding defense to earn player of the game honors.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com