RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA — The Tesoro and Capistrano Valley boys basketball teams might be two of the most evenly matched teams in Orange County.
The Titans held on to beat Capistrano Valley 54-52 in a South Coast League game Wednesday at Tesoro High.
Tesoro center Jake Bennett, left, celebrates as the clock runs out to end the game with the Titans holding on to their lead over Capistrano Valley in a South Coast League basketball game in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley center Kasra Tousi, right, is able to hit the ball out of Tesoro forward Nathan Draper’s hands as he tries to put up a shot in a South Coast League basketball game in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley guard Jalen Constantino, center, tries to slip past Tesoro guard Matthew Hanley, left, and guard Blake Manning, right, in a South Coast League basketball game in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley guard Jalen Constantino loses control of the ball as he falls to the floor against Tesoro in a South Coast League basketball game in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley center Kasra Tousi takes a shot against Tesoro in a South Coast League basketball game in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro forward Nathan Draper, right, slaps the ball away from Capistrano Valley center Kasra Tousi as he tries a layup in a South Coast League basketball game in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro guard Carson Brown, right, pushes past Capistrano Valley guard Blake Gray to the layup in a South Coast League basketball game in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Players from both teams including Tesoro guard Carson Brown, center, reach for the rebound in a South Coast League basketball game in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley guard Efe Gucoglu, right, isn’t able to make the shot as Tesoro center Jake Bennett, left, and forward Nathan Draper block his path in a South Coast League basketball game in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro forward Nathan Draper, left, takes a jump shot over Capistrano Valley guard Jackson Gray in a South Coast League basketball game in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro guard Matthew Hanley, left, ties up Capistrano Valley guard Jalen Constantino in a South Coast League basketball game in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro center Jake Bennett, right, hits the rebound away from Capistrano Valley center Kasra Tousi in a South Coast League basketball game in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro center Jake Bennett grabs a rebound against Capistrano Valley in a South Coast League basketball game in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley won the previous league matchup with the Titans 62-60 in overtime on Jan. 11.
The Cougars lead the all-time series against Tesoro 14-13.
“It was devastating last time (to lose) and we hit a few more free throws tonight,” Tesoro coach Steve Garrett said. “I’m proud of our defense.”
“We needed this game for our hopes of winning league again,” Tesoro guard Carson Brown said. “It’s never boring when we play Capo. It’s a fun rivalry with some tension there. Every time we play them it’s a good game.”
Capo Valley (15-7, 3-2) entered the week ranked No. 13 in Orange County, closely followed by Tesoro at No. 14.
Tesoro (21-4, 4-1) now has sole possession of first place in league with three games remaining.
“We focus on one game at a time. We’ll enjoy tonight but everything is just a one-game season,” Garrett said.
The Titans led by as much as 11 points in the third quarter, but Capo Valley gradually cut down its deficit. Efe Gucoglu scored 13 of his 20 points in the third quarter and Tesoro’s lead was down to seven points entering the fourth quarter.
Tesoro led by five in the final minute when Gucoglu and Jackson Gray each made two free throws to make the score 53-52.
Titans forward Nathan Draper got a huge offensive rebound with 14 seconds remaining in the game. The Cougars fouled senior guard Matthew Hanley, who made one of two free throws. Capo Valley took a 3-point attempt at the buzzer but missed.
Brown led Tesoro with 20 points. Jake Bennett scored 14 points and was 3 of 4 on 3-point attempts. Draper had 13 points with 9 rebounds.
“It’s really fun playing with these guys,” Brown said. “We have multiple options to score and we can all defend.”
Tesoro returned all five senior starters from last season’s team that won the South Coast League championship and have continuity that many teams lack.
“They’ve all been playing together since the third grade. That’s how we do it at Tesoro,” Garrett said. “This is their time. I’m just the shepherd over the flock.”
