The Todd Beamer boys basketball team kicked off the season with a 68-57 win over Bethel on Monday night.

Things were different and familiar at the same time as coach Brent Brilhante returned to the Titans’ sideline for the first time since the 2009-10 season. He takes over for Winston Bell, who led the team to their best finish in the state playoffs in 2014 when they finished fifth.

Brilhante was the first Beamer coach to take the team to the state playoffs and he’s looking to get back.

“I love it,” Brilhante said “I work here, I love it here and I’m just ecstatic to be here. This is my home.”

Gone from the Titans is last year’s leading rebounder and second best scorer, Charles Frazier.

Beamer got off to a fast start in the game as they led 25-14 after the first quarter. Kiere McCoy led the team in scoring after the first quarter with eight points.

Both teams had shaky second quarters and the scoring cooled off. The Titans led 35-24 at the half.

The Titans focused on scoring from inside the paint for most of the night. When they were not taking a 3-point shot, it was likely that the ball was going to make its way to the paint somehow.

Patrick Kennedy, who was the team’s third leading scorer last season, was the biggest beneficiary as he was able to show his ability to drive to the basket. He would lead the team with 19 points on the night.

“Patrick’s always going to give us effort,” said Brilhante. “All our guys are going to give us effort, but we know Patrick’s going to be relentless on the glass and he did a great job of filling it in when he got them.”

Trailing by 17 during the third quarter, Bethel would have a small scoring surge, closing the gap to seven points in the fourth quarter. The Titans responded at the end of the game with a couple of clutch shots, including a driving basket and foul shot by Kennedy to put the Titans back up 10.

They would hit one more free throw and clamp down on the Braves to take home the double-digit victory.

“I’m excited, they’re a great group of kids,” Brilhante said. “They love each other and they play hard for each other. We just got to clean some stuff up and I think we’ll be fine.”

The Titans defeated Lakes 82-60 in their second game on Wednesday. They will open conference play against the defending league and state champions, Federal Way High School (1-0, 0-0), at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at Todd Beamer High School.