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    Tesoro girls basketball caps turnaround by defeating Serra in CIF-SS 4AA championship game
    • March 2, 2025

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    HUNTINGTON BEACH — Tesoro’s girls basketball team never imagined before the season that it would reach the CIF Southern Section finals, let alone experience the special memories that flowed at Edison High on Saturday.

    The Titans, after all, finished 4-23 last season.

    “I don’t think any of us would have thought that we would make a CIF champion,” Tesoro senior guard Jade McMahon said. “I mean, we scheduled our banquet before our season ended. So I think it was probably the last thing we expected.”

    Tesoro is now discussing hosting “Banquet #2” after defeating Serra 59-46 in a physical Division 4AA final for its first section title in girls basketball.

    Behind a stellar performance from its backcourt of McMahon and sophomore Caitlyn Tse and the rebounding of junior center Charlotte Marvin, the Titans (23-11) seized control with a 13-0 run in the second quarter and answered Serra’s surge in the third period with a composed effort.

    Tse score six of her team-high 18 points in the fourth while McMahon finished 17 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and three blocks.

    Marvin, who began playing basketball as a freshman, grabbed 12 of her 19 rebounds in the first half and added two assists and blocked three shots.

    After receiving the championship plaque, Tesoro’s players jumped and cheered at center court.

    “We had some kids just decide, ‘You know what, I’m going to buy-in all the way’ and then we had kids follow that,” second-year Tesoro coach Ra Reyes said of his squad, which will play next week in the CIF SoCal Regional playoffs. “That’s what contributed to the turnaround. That’s really the kids. I’m just the vehicle.”

    Tesoro, the third-place team from the Sea View League, showcased its improvements with an impressive second quarter. The Titans went on a 13-0 run to open 26-13 lead.

    The surge started with a foul shot by Samantha Burkett and included a putback by Marvin, a 3-pointer from the corner by Alexa Martinez and a slick pass from McMahon to a cutting Burkett for a basket.

    Tesoro made 8 of 17 shots from the floor in the second (47 percent) to lead 36-19 at intermission. The Titans’ desire was highlighted in the frame with a head-first dive by freshman Elyse Thomas for a loose ball.

    “A lot of (our improvement) was (due to) individual work,” McMahon said. “We worked on team chemistry. A lot of it just goes to my teammates. I really appreciate the effort that they put in.”

    Serra (18-13) went on a 10-0 run in the third in trimming Tesoro’s lead to 41-37 but Tse sank a late 3-pointer from the top of arc for a 44-37 advantage going into the fourth. She finished two drives to the basket early in the fourth as the Titans again found their footing.

    “Just have confidence in myself,” Tse said of her approach. “And I have confidence in my teammates that we can get across and that we can finish it.”

     Orange County Register 

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