Orange, CA – Irvine High School boys basketball made history Monday night, capturing its first-ever Orange Holiday Tournament championship with a 60-50 win over El Toro. The victory marked the Vaqueros’ ninth straight and improved their record to 16-2, cementing them as a team to watch heading into Pacific Coast League play.
Stearns Shines
Senior forward Cooper Stearns delivered a dominant double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 19 rebounds to earn Tournament MVP honors. Despite constant double-teams, he poured in 15 first-half points to give Irvine a 31-23 halftime lead.
Yim Sparks Third-Quarter Run
The Vaqueros pulled away in the third, hitting four 3-pointers—two each from Jalen Yim and Holden Stearns—to extend the lead to 51-33. Yim finished with 17 points and five threes, earning all-tournament honors alongside Holden Stearns and Taewon Kim.
El Toro Rallies Late
The Chargers trimmed a 20-point deficit to eight in the final minute, fueled by Sean Mendoza’s late three and 17 points from Christien Jimenez. But Irvine held firm, securing its second tournament title of the season.
With league play ahead, Irvine’s balance of size, shooting, and grit has them primed for more big moments.
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