All five locals move on in boys’ basketball playoffs

Five-for-five.

That’s how the local prep boys’ basketball teams fared on a perfect night Wednesday in the opening round of the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

Fountain Valley, Edison, Huntington Beach, Ocean View and Brethren Christian all were first-round winners and each will attempt to extend their respective seasons Friday when they play second-round games.

Fountain Valley had reason to celebrate in Whittier, not only for keeping its season alive, but for picking up the program’s first playoff win in 10 years. The Barons did so by knocking off host California, 51-31, in a Division 1A game.

“We came out and played solid defense,” first-year Fountain Valley Coach Roger Holmes said. “We dominated the boards the entire game and never trailed.”

Sean Myers led the Barons with 15 points and Zach Matar and Tanner Trounce each scored eight points.

“It was great to bring home a playoff win for Fountain Valley for the first time in 10 years,” Holmes said. “The players did a good job controlling the glass and running our stuff. The game was a little sloppy, but we did enough to lead throughout the game and hold off any serious threats.”

Fountain Valley travels to face fourth-ranked and San Gabriel Valley League champion Downey at 7 p.m. Friday.

“We will have to play our best game to keep it close,” Holmes said of the Vikings, who had a first-round bye.

Three other local teams, Edison, Huntington Beach and Ocean View, are moving on in Division 2AA play.

A flu-riddled Edison team -- the Chargers had four starters hit by the bug -- squeaked out a 56-54 victory against visiting Sunny Hills, the No. 3 team from the Freeway League. In addition to getting the win -- which puts the fifth-ranked Sunset League champs in a second-round game at 7 p.m. Friday at No. 12 Simi Valley, co-champion of the Marmonte League -- senior guard Dylan Garrity became the school’s all-time scoring leader. His 32 points puts him at 1,692 for his career and tops the previous record for career points of 1,686, set by Kyle Boswell last year.

Simi Valley advanced Wednesday by defeating Glendale, 61-44.

Huntington Beach also traveled to Whittier on Wednesday to take on Del Rio League co-champion La Serna and came home with a 40-30 win over the Lancers. The 11^th-ranked Oilers were only up, 23-21, at the half but held the Lancers to just two third-quarter points and took a 38-23 lead into the fourth quarter.

Jordan Reise scored 14 points and Mackey Clustka added 12 points for Huntington, which improved to 20-8, the same record La Serna ends its season with.

“I was proud of the effort,” said Huntington Coach Fabian Luna, whose squad hosts sixth-ranked Summit at 7 p.m. Friday. “Anytime you walk into somebody’s gym and get a victory, it feels good, especially in the playoffs.”

Summit is 22-6 and winner of the Sunkist League. The Skyhawks routed La Quinta of La Quinta on Wednesday, 83-40.

“They are a very athletic team and it will be a good test,” Luna said.

Ocean View, tri-champion of the Golden West League, knocked off visiting Patriot, 53-42, the No. 15 team in Division 2AA. Senior guard Billy Keller had 20 points and senior center Conor Clifford posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Seahawks (18-9), who travel north Friday for a 7 p.m. game at top-ranked Ventura, the Channel League champion. The Cougars knocked off West Ranch, 69-48, Wednesday.

Academy League co-champion Brethren Christian scored a 67-46 home court win over New Community Jewish High in Division 5A action. Four Warriors scored in double figures: Daniel Healy had 13 points and 12 assists, Riley Thomas a game-high 21 points, Bobby Frisch 13 points and Dakota Warren 10 points. Jazwan Hill added nine points and four assists coming off the bench.

Sixth-ranked Brethren Christian travels to the Bermuda Dunes Friday for a 7 p.m. game at 11^th-ranked Desert Christian Academy. The Conquerors, champions of the Victory League, were 83-56 winners Wednesday over California School for the Deaf – Riverside.