Boys’ Basketball: Gonzalez helps Oil win rivalry

In an Water vs. Oil battle on opening night of the Sunset League boys’ basketball season Friday, it was the latter that got the best of the former.

Huntington Beach went to Marina for a league lid-lifter, led from start to finish in this rivalry game and withstood several challenges from the Vikings to come away with a 59-55 victory before a near-capacity and boisterous crowd.

Guard Noah Gonzalez went on scoring spurts at the outset of the final three quarters and sparked the win for Huntington which improved to 8-9 overall. The junior scored eight consecutive points early in the second quarter that led to the first double-digit leads of the game for the Oilers. He scored the first six Huntington points of the second half, and opened the fourth quarter with a 9-0 scoring blitz, to again put the Oilers into a double-digit advantage which led to their largest lead (54-40).

Gonzalez, who hit a pair of three-point shots and converted three free throws after being fouled on his third three-point attempt of the fourth quarter, led all scorers with 25 points. He hit five three-pointers, overall.

Senior guard Sean Strom, who had key defensive stops and hit a key shot in the second quarter and a free throw in the fourth quarter to end Marina scoring runs, added 12 points.

Huntington came out strong defensively, hit the offensive boards which created second-chance possessions, and scored the game’s first six points. The Oilers held a 15-9 lead after one quarter and led, 29-26 at the half and 45-40 heading into the fourth quarter.

“Noah worked really, really hard on his shot during the off-season, and it shows,” Huntington Coach Billy Thompson said. “He had a big shooting night and really sparked us.”

“We sure got better than our last game (a 62-42 nonleague loss Jan. 6 to Northwood). We got our fast-break going and pushed the ball up court.

“The Sunset League is going to be so tough this year. To get one [win] here against a good Marina team is a nice way to start league play.”

Senior forward Buzz Stafford, who hit three three-pointers, led Marina (11-5) with 19 points and had five rebounds. Freshman center Jakob Alamudun scored 14 points and had six rebounds, and senior guard Ethan Young had 14 points and five rebounds.

Marina Coach Nick Racklin said his team’s game plan with clear.

“Don’t let No. 33 [Gonzalez] shoot the ball,” he said. “We just didn’t follow the scouting report. Huntington does two things really good, press and shoot the ball. They did both, and that caused problems for us.”

Another Sunset opener Friday pitted last year’s co-defending league champions, Edison and Los Alamitos, against each other. The visiting Chargers started slowly, trailed by nine at the half, and eventually was upended, 61-51. Senior guard Nate Matthews scored 19 points and junior guard Randall Walker points.

Edison, ranked second in CIF Southern Section Division 2AA, was 13-4 overall entering the week.

Los Alamitos is ranked No. 8 in Division 1AA.

“It was a great experience for the nine guys who have never been involved in a game like that,” Edison Coach Rich Boyce said. “The crowd was huge and loud and it affected us for a while, but we did settle down. I hope it helps with future Sunset League games.”

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•In a third Sunset opener Friday, Fountain Valley hosted Newport Harbor and the visiting Sailors used a big second quarter to pull ahead en route to a 61-48 victory. Barons Coach Steve Schultz said it was his team’s “worst shooting performance of the season.”

Junior guard Matt Serven dropped in five three-point shots and a game-high 29 points and junior guard Sean Huynh scored 12 for the Barons who fell to 13-4 overall.

Sunset League teams were back in action Wednesday. Scores weren’t available at press time.

In Sunset games at 7 p.m. Friday, Edison hosts Huntington and Marina hosts Fountain Valley.

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•Ocean View, defending co-champion of the Golden West League, took step No. 1 toward a title repeat by pummeling host Segerstrom, 87-51, in a league opener for both teams Friday.

Sophomore guard Paul Head had 18 points and five rebounds, senior guard Zamir Kelly 17 points and five rebounds, sophomore guard Bryson Betti 15 points, five rebounds and six assists, senior forward Christian Anderson 15 points and seven rebounds, and sophomore center Mehkel Harvey blocked five shots. The Seahawks, No. 13 in CIF-SS Division 3A, upped their overall record to 13-4.

“We were really pleased with our energy and focus,” Ocean View co-head Coach Tim Walsh said. “We like playing fast, and we established that pace early. On the offensive end, we have not been shooting very well, so it was great to see us hit some shots and share the basketball. Defensively, we were very active and made them work for everything. Overall, it was good way to start league.”

Ocean View was back in league action against Loara Wednesday. The score wasn’t available at press time. The Seahawks continue league play at 7 p.m. Friday at Orange.

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•Brethren Christian fell to 1-1 in Academy League play and 5-10 overall after a 64-27 loss Tuesday to visiting Irvine Crean Lutheran (No. 4, CIF-SS Division 4A).

In their league opener Friday, the Warriors, ranked No. 12 in CIF-SS Division 5A, traveled to Downey and rallied in the second half for a 74-60 victory over the Calvary Chapel Grizzlies. Senior center Sam Kennard had 24 points and 13 rebounds, sophomore guard Isaiah Vargas hit four three-point shots and finished with 22 points, and junior guard Joey Gutierrez had 16 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

BC outscored the Grizzlies by 28 points in the second half.

“It was a good way to start league, especially on the road,” BC Coach Jon Bahnsen said. “We were down 14 points at halftime and ended up winning by 14 points. Our guys showed a lot of heart and trust in each other.”

BC hosts travels to Cerritos Thursday to take on league rival Whitney at 7 p.m, and hosts league foe San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret’s at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Liberty Christian School.

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CIF Weekly Rankings: Edison (No. 2, Division 2AA); Ocean View (No. 13, Division 3A); Brethren Christian (No. 12, Division 5A).