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Tesoro basketball wins battle with Orange Lutheran to become CIF-SS Division 2AA champs

February 26, 2023

HUNTINGTON BEACH — Tesoro’s boys basketball team put forth a dominant defensive effort in a 54-35 win over Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2AA championship game Saturday at Edison High.

It is the first CIF boys basketball championship for Tesoro since 2009, when current assistant coach Chris Manresa was the team’s captain.

Tesoro Head Coach Steve Garrett holds the first place plaque as he and his team celebrate their win over Orange Lutheran during the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball championship game at Edison High School in Huntington Beach on Saturday, February 25, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tesoro teammates and coaches celebrate their win over Orange Lutheran during the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball championship game at Edison High School in Huntington Beach on Saturday, February 25, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tesoro teammates celebrate their win over Orange Lutheran during the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball championship game at Edison High School in Huntington Beach on Saturday, February 25, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Carson Brown, center, of Tesoro takes a shot over Javon Smith, left, and John Gazzaniga of Orange Lutheran during the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball championship game at Edison High School in Huntington Beach on Saturday, February 25, 2023. Tesoro won the game. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

John Gazzaniga of Orange Lutheran, left, drives to the basket as Jake Bennett of Tesoro attempts to block the shot during the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball championship game at Edison High School in Huntington Beach on Saturday, February 25, 2023. Tesoro won the game. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Blake Manning of Orange Lutheran, right, tries to get past Carter Johnson, right, of Tesoro during the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball championship game at Edison High School in Huntington Beach on Saturday, February 25, 2023. Tesoro won the game. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Andrew Nagy of Orange Lutheran shoots the ball over Nathan Draper of Tesoro in the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball championship game at Edison High School in Huntington Beach on Saturday, February 25, 2023. Tesoro won the game. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Cannon Potter of Orange Lutheran, left, attempts to shoot over Nathan Draper of Tesoro during the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball championship game at Edison High School in Huntington Beach on Saturday, February 25, 2023. Tesoro won the game. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Jake Bennett of Tesoro takes a shot as Tesoro fans look on during the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball championship game against Orange Lutheran at Edison High School in Huntington Beach on Saturday, February 25, 2023. Tesoro won the game. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Zion Paleo of Orange Lutheran shoots the ball over Jake Bennett of Tesoro in the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball championship game at Edison High School in Huntington Beach on Saturday, February 25, 2023. Tesoro won the game. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Carter Johnson, left, of Tesoro has his shot blocked by John Gazzaniga of Orange Lutheran during the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball championship game at Edison High School in Huntington Beach on Saturday, February 25, 2023. Tesoro won the game. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tesoro fans cheer their team during their game against Orange Lutheran during the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball championship game at Edison High School in Huntington Beach on Saturday, February 25, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Jake Bennett, left, of Tesoro drives past John Gazzaniga of Orange Lutheran during the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball championship game at Edison High School in Huntington Beach on Saturday, February 25, 2023. Tesoro won the game. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

David Manea of Orange Lutheran, left, tries to get around Carter Johnson of Tesoro during the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball championship game at Edison High School in Huntington Beach on Saturday, February 25, 2023. Tesoro won the game. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Zion Paleo of Orange Lutheran looks to pass the ball as Carter Johnson of Tesoro puts the pressure on during the CIF-SS Division 2AA boys basketball championship game at Edison High School in Huntington Beach on Saturday, February 25, 2023. Tesoro won the game. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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“I just love this group. It sounds so corny but these kids love each other and are committed to each other,” Tesoro coach Steve Garrett said. “Just exceptional kids and they’ve played together since they were in third, fourth and fifth grade.”

Tesoro (29-4) held Orange Lutheran (20-11) to a season-low 35 points, beating the previous mark of 47 points. The Titans held the Lancers to just 25.5 percent shooting Saturday and allowed only 10 points in the second half on 13 percent shooting.

“Their defense was just locked in together,” Garrett said. “Early on we were getting killed on the boards. We told the guys to keep scrapping and gang rebound. Staying connected with our defensive principles.”

Tesoro guard Carson Brown made a strong case for Orange County player of the year with his performance on both sides of the ball. Brown had a game-high 26 points and scored 16 of the team’s first 21 points.

“Coming into the game we thought they were a really big team and knowing in the second half that we could compete with them really got our confidence going,” Brown said. “We hit a few shots and they missed a few and we went on a run from there.”

Tesoro took the lead late in the third quarter and dominated the rest of the game. Nathan Draper made a bank shot at the third quarter buzzer to give Tesoro a 37-33 lead.

After a layup by Orange Lutheran sophomore John Gazzaniga, the Titans went on a 17-0 run to finish the game. Jake Bennett made a corner 3-pointer and on the ensuing possession Carter Johnson got a steal and layup to prompt an Orange Lutheran timeout.

“We had a stretch this season where that kid (Johnson) didn’t play six games but he just kept hanging in there and was a big factor,” Garrett said. “Carson got us settled in and the other guys, when they started double-teaming Carson, they started stepping up in the second half.”

Bennett had 13 points and eight rebounds against Orange Lutheran’s big front court.

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Despite being the smaller team, Tesoro had the edge over Orange Lutheran in rebounds, points in the paint and second-chance points.

Cannon Potter led Orange Lutheran with 16 points and no other Lancers player scored in double-figures. Gazzaniga led the defense with five blocks.

Orange Lutheran was the third-place representative from the Trinity League after tying with Santa Margarita and JSerra in the league standings.

The Lancers beat Aliso Niguel, Edison, Rancho Cucamonga and top-seeded Oxnard to reach the championship game.

Orange County Register

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Tesoro basketball wins battle with Orange Lutheran to become CIF-SS Division 2AA champs

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