Boys’ Basketball Roundup: Big-man Ndiaye bounces back for Warriors

Mamadou Ndiaye sat out game action last week due to illness. On Tuesday, with his health returned, he returned to the Brethren Christian lineup in a big way.

The 7-foot-5 senior center scored a career-high 45 points and secured 15 rebounds, and sophomore guard Brandon Bryson turned in a strong, all-around performance, to help guide the Warriors’ boys’ basketball team to a 76-55 Academy League victory over host Oxford Academy of Cypress.

Ndiaye didn’t suit up Friday when BC took on league foe Sage Hill. Bryson also had been ill early last week, but did see action against the Lightning. Bryson scored six points Tuesday to go along with 11 assists, five steals and four rebounds.

The win kept the Warriors, ranked fourth in CIF Southern Section Division 5-AA, are atop the league standings at 6-0. They hold a one-game lead over second-place St. Margaret’s (5-1). The teams square off Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at St. Margaret’s.

“We played well,” BC Coach Jon Bahnsen said. “It was a fun game where everyone got involved with different aspects of the game. We’re striving to peak at the right time with playoffs only two weeks away. This game will continue us peaking.”

Brethren Christian was coming off a 64-53 league win Friday over Sage Hill. The Warriors led by as many as 23 points and were led in scoring by freshman forward Cameron Griffin, who had a game-high 16 points. Senior forward Dakota Warren and junior guard Caleb Keller both scored 11 points and junior guard Nick Dang had 10 points.

“It was a good game to show how strong our team is,” Bahnsen said. “Playing without Ndiaye allowed other guys to step up and show our depth as a team.”

The Warriors, 17-3 overall, play three games over three days starting with an 8 p.m. game Thursday against Crean Lutheran of Irvine at Ocean View High. They take on Servite at 6:15 p.m. Friday as part of the Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei High. On Saturday, they return to league play at home against Whitney of Cerritos at 8 p.m. at Liberty Christian School in Huntington Beach.

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The Huntington Beach Oilers made the Sunset League race a wide-open affair after handing leader Fountain Valley its first league loss, 67-52, on Jan. 25 at Huntington. The outcome left the Barons with a one-game lead over the Oilers, Edison and Los Alamitos heading into the week.

Scores from Wednesday’s league games weren’t available at press time.

Senior forward Harley Ruder, who was injured and didn’t play when the teams met on Jan. 4, a 72-60 Fountain Valley win, turned in a double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Oilers (15-7, 4-2 in league). Senior guard Andrew TenBrink also posted a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Mason Luna had 10 points and five rebounds.

“I was really pleased with our defensive effort and we just have to continue to get better every day,” Huntington Coach Fabian Luna said.

Senior center Jackson Gatlin had a double-double for Fountain Valley with 18 points and 14 rebounds to go along with five blocks. Senior guard Josh Armstrong also scored 18 points.

“It was a game where we didn’t play a very complete game and it cost us,” said Fountain Valley Coach Roger Holmes, whose team dropped to 5-1 in league and 17-5 overall. “We didn’t score in the fourth quarter until very late and by then, the game was in [Huntington’s] control.”

Huntington, ranked ninth in CIF-SS Division 1-A, travels for a 7 p.m. tip Friday at Newport Harbor. The Oilers play at 7 p.m. at Los Alamitos on Tuesday.

Fountain Valley plays a pair of key league contests that will again shuffle the Sunset standings. The Barons travel for a 7 p.m. game Friday at Los Alamitos and at 7 p.m. Tuesday, against visiting rival Edison.

“The league is a tough battle from start to finish. You can’t look at the standings really, it just is one big game after another,” Holmes said. “We have four big games in a row and so does everyone else. Then, we will see where everyone settles.”

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Edison: The Chargers, once again, edged out Newport Harbor in Sunset League play, this time by defeating the Sailors, 60-58, in overtime. When the teams opened league play on Jan. 4, Edison used a last-second basket to come away with a 67-65 win at Newport.

Sophomore forward AJ Garrity scored the winning basket with 4.7 seconds left for the last of his 11 points. Junior guard Nick Rubio came off the bench to lead all scorers with 19 points.

Edison, ranked No. 14 in Division 1-A, improved to 4-2 in league and 14-9 overall.

“We got ourselves in a hole by not matching the intensity of the Sailors in the first half,” Edison Coach Rich Boyce said. “We were able to start making shots in the second half. [A] great win again over a tough, well-coached Newport Harbor team.”

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Marina: The Vikings started the second half of Sunset League play Friday at Los Alamitos and lost, 57-44, to the Griffins.

Senior forward Hayden Winks scored 14 points, junior guard Derek Mallard scored 10 points, sophomore guard Greg Fronek had nine points and senior forward Casey Hayes grabbed 10 rebounds for the Vikings, who are 0-6 in league and 6-16 overall.

“We are competing and not getting blown out, but our guys would do anything for a win at this point,” Marina Coach Nick Racklin said. “We are excited to knock off some of the top teams in the league down the stretch here.”

Marina is on the road Friday for a 7 p.m. game at Edison. Next week, the Vikings close out league play with two more road games starting with a 7 p.m. Tuesday tip at Newport Harbor.

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Ocean View: The Seahawks remained the Golden West League leader Friday by overpowering host Santa Ana, 70-30.

Sophomore guard Tyler Burch hit four three-pointer and led all scorers with 19 points as Ocean View, the No. 4-ranked team in Division 3-A, ran its league record to 6-0 and overall record to 15-6. Senior guard Josh Mishler scored 18 points and had eight rebounds, sophomore guard Kendall Small had 11 points, five rebounds and five assists, and junior forward Dillon Reise had seven points and seven rebounds.

“Over the past few weeks, we have come out with great energy, and I was happy to see us keep that going against Santa Ana,’ Ocean View Coach Tim Walsh said. “We shot the ball really well, and defended better for longer stretches. We had some tough games last week, and it was good to finish on a positive note.”

Ocean View plays host to rival Westminster at 7 p.m. Friday in a key league showdown. The Seahawks step outside of league play Saturday to take part in the Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei High. They face the Durango Trailblazers of Las Vegas at 10:30 a.m.

Next week, Ocean View closes out league play starting with a 7 p.m. game Wednesday at Orange.

“It is always a battle when we play Westminster,” said Walsh, whose team defeated the Lions, 62-58, in its first league meeting on Jan. 16. “They play really hard, and they have some guys who can put up some big numbers. In order for us to succeed, we have to play with great energy on both ends. Then, we have to come back the next morning against a really athletic opponent [Durango]. That will be a challenge, and I’m hoping that our guys can respond.”

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CIF Southern Section Weekly Boys’ Basketball Rankings

Division 1-A: Huntington Beach, No. 9; Edison, No. 14.

Division 3-A: Ocean View, No. 4.

Division 5-AA: Brethren Christian, No. 4.

michael.sciacca@latimes.com

Twitter: @MikeSciacca