PREP NOTES

One of Orange County’s smallest schools is one of the biggest surprises this basketball season.

Capistrano Valley Christian, with an enrollment of 168, has a 29-66 record over the last four seasons, including a 3-20 mark two years ago.

But the Eagles appear to have turned things around this season, starting 5-0 and winning the Laguna Hills tournament.

Capistrano Valley Christian beat Laguna Hills (1,570 students), El Toro (2,150 students) and Mission Viejo (1,700 students) on the way to the tournament championship. It’s the Eagles’ best start since 1981, when they reached the Southern Section semifinals.

“It’s just like in the movie ‘Hoosiers’ ” said assistant coach Rick Johnsen, who played on the 1981 team. “We only carry eight guys on the varsity, and we went out and beat much bigger schools.

“Even the 1981 team couldn’t have pulled that off. We couldn’t have beat the El Toros and Mission Viejos.”

This season is part of a three-year rebuilding program with Johnsen and Coach Art Jenkins. Most of the Eagle players have been on the varsity since they were freshmen, and they took their lumps along the way.

“You have to give a lot of credit to Art,” said Johnsen, who played for Jenkins in 1981. “He’s a fundamental basketball genius.”

The Eagles will play in a tournament in San Jose beginning today.