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Boys’ Basketball Roundup: Barons bolt to great start

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After playing 10 games in a 14-day span to start its season, the Fountain Valley High boys’ basketball team is on a 10-day hiatus.

The Barons went into the break on a successful note, having gone 9-1 in those 10 games. They ended the run by claiming the Valley Christian Tournament championship Saturday by defeating Santa Clara, 69-67, in the title game.

Fountain Valley began the tournament with wins over Whittier Christian (82-63) and St. Paul (68-53). The Barons then beat host Valley Christian, 60-50, in the semifinals, before edging Santa Clara in the final.

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“We beat a solid Santa Clara team,” Fountain Valley Coach Roger Holmes said. “They were athletic and could shoot it. Our guys played exceptional team basketball and stayed composed throughout a tough, close game. We made some big shots when we needed it and kept Santa Clara from ever taking control of the game.”

In the title game, Josh Armstrong hit four three-pointers and finished with 25 points in addition to registering six rebounds and nine assists. Jackson Gatlin scored 10 points with 14 rebounds and five blocks, Tanner Trounce scored 14 points with eight rebounds, and Danny Chamaa scored 12 points with five rebounds and three assists.

Armstrong, a senior guard, scored 13 points and had 11 rebounds and six blocks, and Gatlin, a 6-foot-7 senior center, had 10 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks, in the semifinal win over Valley Christian.

Armstrong was voted MVP of the tournament and Gatlin and senior forward Joey Petersen were named to the all-tournament team.

Fountain Valley returns to play Tuesday for a 6 p.m. nonleague game at Segerstrom.

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Brethren Christian: The Warriors scored a 56-47 win Monday over Garden Grove in a first-round game at the Oxford Academy Tournament. Center Mamadou Ndiaye poured in 30 points for BC which improved to 3-1.

The Warriors completed play Saturday at the Christian Cup tournament in Gilbert, Ariz., and won the consolation championship. They dropped their opener, 78-77, on a last-second three-point shot in overtime to Valley Christian (Ariz.). BC then scored a 50-41 win over Mesilla Valley Christian (New Mexico) and in the consolation final, edged Lynden Christian of Washington, 64-63.

Four Warriors scored in double figures in the win against Lynden Christian, which last year won a state division championship. Ndiaye, despite playing only five minutes in the first half due to early foul trouble, led the scoring with Dakota Warren with 13 points and Brandon Bryson and Caleb Keller scored 12 and 11 points, respectively.

“It was a very positive start to our season,” said BC Coach Jon Bahnsen whose team opened its season in Arizona. “We played tough competition on the court and bonded well off of the court over the weekend.”

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Edison: The Chargers won their opening game at the Irvine World News/Gary Raya Classic Monday by defeating Valencia of Placentia, 60-48. Four Chargers scored in double figures led by a game-high from senior guard Brodie Barton. Sophomore guards Derek Molina, Brae Ivey and Jake Haar had 14, 11 and 10 points, respectively.

In its second game at the Classic, Edison was edged, 60-55, by Temecula Valley. Molina scored a game-high 16 points and Ivey added 13.

Edison (3-3) was coming off a fifth-place finish at the Corona del Mar Beach Bash. Following losses to Tustin (58-39) and Corona del Mar (68-61), the Chargers closed the tournament with wins over Long Beach Wilson (55-54) and Rancho Christian (67-36). Ivey was named all-tournament.

“We are very young so we were inconsistent at times but we continue to play hard,” Edison Coach Rich Boyce said.

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Huntington Beach: The Oilers pulled away from Torrance in the fourth quarter of a first-round game at the Charlie Wilkins Memorial Tournament Monday and went on to post a 60-51 victory over the Warriors at Westminster High. Senior forward Harley Ruder scored a game-high 21 points and junior guard Ryan Morrissey added 10 points, as the Oilers ran their record to 4-2.

Ruder also netted a game-best 33 points in a nonleague game Dec. 5 against Mission Viejo, but the Oilers were defeated by the undefeated Diablos, 67-53.

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Marina: The Vikings made their debut Tuesday at the La Canada Tournament, where they were defeated, 49-33, by Bonita. Casey Hayes and Gabe Cooper both scored 10 points for Marina (3-3).

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Ocean View: The Seahawks (4-2) opened play at the Charlie Wilkins Tournament at Westminster High Monday and routed Calvary Chapel of Santa Ana, 92-56. Dillon Reise led the way for the Seahawks with 22 points and seven rebounds. Kendall Small scored 17 points and had five steals, Tyler Burch scored 16 points, and Jelani Jackson had 15 points coming off the bench.

Ocean View had finished in third place at its own Jim Harris Memorial Tournament of Champions which ended Saturday. The Seahawks completed the tournament with a 3-1 record, capped by an 81-80 win in overtime over Compton. Reise and Small made the all-tournament team.

“The tourney was a roller-coaster for us,” Ocean View Coach Tim Walsh said. “We played very good basketball at times, and there were times when none of us were on the same page. We played about as poorly as we could against JSerra (90-48 loss), and then played with a much better effort on Saturday against Compton. We have a tough preseason schedule, and our goal is to get better everyday. For that to happen, we need bring a great effort everyday.”

michael.sciacca@latimes.com

Twitter: @MikeSciacca

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