Tyler Brazil and the Warriors earned championship honors in the Gustine Rotary Tournament for a fourth consecutive year.

Beevers, Brazil lead Warriors to fourth consecutive Gustine Tournament crown

New year, new team.....but the same result for the varsity Warriors, who continued their dominance of the Gustine Rotary Basketball Tournament last weekend.

Orestimba swept through the field to win the state’s longest-running basketball tournament for a fourth consecutive year.

The Warriors came into the tournament as a team that brought an abundance of speed but little height into the season. They left with the championship honors – again – after turning back Delhi, host Gustine and Central Valley.

Craig Beevers was named the tournament MVP, and Tyler Brazil joined him on the all-tournament team.

Beevers led the Warriors in scoring in each of the first two games; Brazil was all but unstoppable in the title game, exploding for 32 points Saturday night.

“It was a little different for us this year because we usually have the Riverbank Tournament first. Most of the other teams had played games, and we had only played the CIF Foundation game,” coach Rob Pecot stated. “We were a little worried about how we would respond to that, but it wasn’t a problem.”

He credited the Warrior defense with helping Orestimba navigate what Pecot deemed the toughest Rotary Tournament field in his four years at the OHS helm.

“Our offense is not where we want it to be, but we were able to get out and pressure people to prevent them from getting too comfortable in their sets,” he noted.

Orestimba faced a big-school opponent in the final game, and a combination of a fast start and Brazil’s scoring clinic helped the Warriors rise to the challenge with a 63-55 win.

Brazil’s big night included 21 points in the first half.

“He had two threes, but he also took the ball to the rim and went to the free throw line nine times,” Pecot stated. “He was unbelievable in the first half. He put the team on his shoulders.”

Equally important was a solid defensive effort by Chris Messer, who shut down one of Central Valley’s main scoring threats, and a quick 6-0 start.

“I think starting out well was big for us. We showed ourselves that we did belong in that game,” Pecot reflected.

Beevers chipped in nine points in the title game. Ravonne Pious finished with eight.

OHS 70, Gustine 60

The Warriors emerged from a foul-filled game Friday with a win over the host Redskins.

Four Orestimba players finished in double figures, with Beevers pouring in 18 points to lead the way. Brazil and Ravonne Pious each collected 12 points, and Ramonne Pious finished with 11. Messer scored eight points, and Joey Sanders had seven.

Orestimba trailed by three points at the half, but outscored Gustine 35-22 down the stretch.

Pecot said 56 personal fouls were whistled, preventing either team from getting into a rhythm.

“Neither team was really able to do anything,” he commented. “We weren’t able to run, and they weren’t able to do what they wanted to do.”

OHS 72, Delhi 29

The Warriors cruised past Delhi in their tournament opener Thursday behind Beevers’ 22 points.

Orestimba got scoring from across its roster.

Ravonne Pious netted 16 points, Brazil scored 10, Sanders dropped in nine, Messer finished with six, Adrian Estrada scored three and Nick Fernandez, Jaime Cruz and Ramonne Pious each added two points.