Warriors fall to second in Academy

There may be a changing of the guard when it comes to naming the 2014 Academy League champion in boys’ basketball in the coming week.

The league lead was on the line in the past week when two league undefeated teams, Brethren Christian and St. Margaret’s, met twice over a six-day period. In both instances, defending champion BC took a hit in its armor by the Tartans.

The Warriors, who have won the last five Academy titles, dropped the first game, 75-59, on Jan. 30. Tuesday at St. Margaret’s, the Tartans followed that win with a 71-51 victory that gave them a two-game edge in the league standings heading into the final week of the regular season.

Sophomore Cameron Griffin scored 19 points for BC, ranked third in CIF Southern Section Division 5AA, in Tuesday’s loss. Senior guard Caleb Keller scored 15 points and had seven rebounds, and junior forward Guy Demazeliere had eight points and nine rebounds.

St. Margaret’s, the 11th-ranked team in CIF Southern Section Division 4A, outscored the Warriors, 40-26, in the second half. The Tartans (17-3 overall, 8-0 league) were led by the high-scoring trio of junior wings Brent Cahill and Sebastian Much, and junior center Matt Nicholas, who combined for 50 points.

BC slipped to 18-4 overall and 6-2 in league.

The Warriors have four league games remaining on their schedule.

“After our loss to St. Margaret’s last Thursday, we made some adjustments and played a better game [Tuesday night],” BC Coach Jon Bahnsen said. “It was a six-eight game most of the way, but St. Margaret’s size and offensive rebounding hurt us again in the long run.”

In The 75-59 loss to St. Margaret’s Jan. 30, Griffin scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds and junior guard Brandon Bryson led BC in scoring with 15 points and added seven assists. Cahill, Much and Nicholas accounted for 57 of St. Margaret’s 71 points.

Griffin had a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds, and Bryson had 14 points, eight assists and four steals, as BC bounced back from that loss to down league foe Whitney, 66-46, Friday.

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•Edison stayed on the heels of Los Alamitos in the Sunset League race by winning, 62-51, at Marina. Junior guard Jake Haar led the Chargers with 16 points and freshman guard Randall Walker added 10 points.

Edison Coach Rich Boyce said that Haar and Walker “really stepped up” with the Chargers in foul trouble, and that junior guard AJ Garrity (nine points) played a “great second half for us.”

Edison, the No. 6 team in CIF Southern Section Division 1A, improved to 5-1 in league, and stayed alone in second place and one game behind Los Alamitos, and 18-4 overall.

Junior guard Greg Fronek scored 15 points, junior guard Daniel Neff had 12 points and six rebounds, and senior guard Derek Mallard scored eight points for Marina which missed 10 free throws.

The Vikings went to 2-4 in league and 8-14 overall.

“We are very competitive with the top two teams (Los Alamitos, Edison) in our league, and our guys are really learning how to prepare and get better,” Marina Coach Nick Racklin said. “We have young guys who want to step up and push the guys ahead of them. It’s going to be an exciting finish.”

Five Chargers scored in double figures Jan. 29 as Edison defeated Fountain Valley, 75-56. Junior guard Brae Ivey led the way with 17 points. Garrity and Haar scored 14 and 13 points, respectively, senior guard Nick Rubio had 12 points, and junior guard Derek Molina scored 10.

“Great performance by Nick Rubio and Garrett White off of the bench,” Boyce said. “Both provided a spark against a very tough and gritty Baron team.”

Sophomore wing Buzz Stafford scored 13 points and junior guard Daniel Neff had 11 points for Marina, but the Vikings were stunned when Newport Harbor senior guard Nic Sargeant hit a buzzer-beating three-point shot from half court to give the host Sailors a dramatic, 56-55 victory Jan. 29.

Edison faced Newport Harbor and Marina took on Los Alamitos in league play Wednesday. Scores from both games weren’t available at press time.

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•Fountain Valley fell, 83-62, Friday at Sunset League leader Los Alamitos (6-0). Sophomore forward Chris Meyer scored 22 points and senior guard Richard Le had 20 points for the Barons (0-6).

In the 75-56 Jan. 29 loss to Edison, Fountain Valley senior guard Cory Bitzer hit five three-point shots en route to a game-high 23 points. Senior forward Jordan Venters hit three three-pointers and scored 14 points, and Meyer scored 12.

The Barons faced Huntington Beach Wednesday. The score wasn’t available at press time.

•Huntington Beach was outscored, 33-21 in the second half of its Sunset League game Friday against Newport Harbor, and lost, 56-45. Junior forward Nolan Thompson and senior guard Ryan Morrissey scored 11 for the Oilers, who fell to 1-5 in league and 4-18 overall.

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•Ocean View played the opening game Friday of the Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei High, and was upended, 55-33, by Servite (No. 9, CIF Southern Section Division 3AA). Junior forward Zarek Osborne had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Seahawks (10-13).

“We defended well throughout the game, but we had a tough time scoring,” Ocean View Coach Tim Walsh said. “We didn’t shoot well, and their defense did a nice job of keeping us away from the basket. We need to continue to try and make things easier for ourselves on the offensive end.”

In a Golden West League game Jan. 29, Ocean View dropped a 59-49 game to Loara. Osborne scored 18 points and senior forward Tristan Wenschlag had 11 points for Ocean View, which fell to 4-2 in league.

The Seahawks took on Segerstrom Wednesday in Golden West League action. The score wasn’t available at press time.

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••In boys’ basketball action Thursday, Brethren Christian travels for a 7:30 p.m. Academy League game at Sage Hill. The Warriors also play host to league foe Oxford Academy at 8 p.m. Saturday at Liberty Christian School in Huntington Beach.

In 7 p.m. games Friday, Huntington plays host to Marina, Edison plays host to Sunset League leader Los Alamitos, Fountain Valley hosts Newport Harbor, and Ocean View hosts Golden West League leader Westminster.

The league and regular season comes to a close next week for local schools. At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Huntington plays host to Edison, Fountain Valley plays host to Marina, and Brethren Christian plays host to Crean Lutheran in an 8 p.m. Academy League game at Liberty Christian School. Ocean View ends Golden West League play at 7 p.m. Wednesday at home against Orange.

In games at 7 p.m. Feb. 13, Fountain Valley plays host to Edison, Huntington travels to Los Alamitos, and Marina plays host to Newport Harbor. At 7:30 p.m., Brethren Christian plays at Downey Calvary Chapel.

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CIF Weekly Rankings

Boys’ basketball: Edison (No. 6, Division 1A); Brethren Christian (No. 3, Division 5AA).