OCVarsity Team of the Week: Tesoro boys basketball

OCVarsity is honoring the Tesoro boys basketball team as its Team of the Week for its outstanding achievements on and off the court. If you know of a team that should be considered for this honor, please email us at preps@ocregister.com.

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LAS FLORES – Athletes tend to be measured by ability. At Tesoro High, the boys basketball program is out to show that heart, not ability, is immeasurable.

Zach Skorina, is a special education student at Tesoro, he is also the manager on the sophomore boys basketball team. He was the varsity team manager a year ago, but Titans coach Steve Garrett elected to have him manage the sophomore team in order to gain more playing time.

Skorina played in a few games this season, and he is active on the playing fields of the Spirit League, a special needs sports league in southern Orange County.

The Titans' varsity boys basketball team surprised Skorina by attending his Spirit League soccer game.

"It was important, because it inspired me to do my best in that game," Skorina said. "It was exciting, I couldn't believe it."

Tesoro is no stranger to supporting those with special needs. Garrett is a special-education teacher at the school, and the team also has a tradition of taking pictures with special education students at winter formals and proms.

Garrett noted the support isn't something that has been premeditated by the program, but more of a natural instinct to help support others.

"The kids are blessed to have the abilities they have," Garrett said. "I think they realize there's kids who don't have the exact abilities, but they have the same heart.

"Zach's and the kid's hearts are the same, Zach is as competitive as anybody. It's a good reminder to use your abilities to the fullest."

On the court, Garrett's team performed to the fullest of its abilities this season – led by Tanner Lancona, Conrad Snyder and Austin Channer – as it posted a 21-10 record and advanced all the way to the CIF-SS 2A semifinals.