Oilers crowned king of Surf City

The boys’ hoops battle for Surf City Monday went to the Huntington Beach Oilers.

In a rare meeting between two local boys’ basketball teams, Huntington rallied in the last-half of the fourth quarter to down visiting Ocean View, 71-66, in non-league play.

Ocean View led 38-31 at the half and by as much as 11 points (44-33) with 5:41 to play in the third quarter. But Huntington hung around and the action at both ends of the floor really heated up as both teams hit clutch shots in the final 4:18 of the game.

The Seahawks held a 56-49 lead with 5:51 to go but the Oilers scored eight-straight points culminating with a three-point shot by Zach Kimber with 4:18 left that pushed Huntington into a 57-56 lead.

The teams were tied twice more before Kimber again hit from the three-point range, this time with 2:27 on the clock, to give Huntington the lead for good at 64-61.

The game also served as a get-together for the Oilers’ Trevor Carroll, and Seahawks players Brandon Ishimoto and Takeshi Clifford.

Carroll said he has known and played basketball with Ishimoto since the age of 5, and he has played with Clifford since middle school ball at Dwyer.

They had a brief greeting before tip-off, said Carroll, who guarded Clifford in the game’s early going before switching off.

Huntington and Ocean View also played in the same tournament in Hawaii during the holiday break in late-December, but never met on the court.

“It was fun to play against them,” said Carroll, a guard and four-year starter for the Oilers. “They are such a good team and it’s great to be able to get a win against a program like Ocean View. It’s a good victory that will give us some confidence for the rest of league play.”

Carroll, Ishimoto and Clifford made some big shots down the stretch.

Carroll finished with 10 points. He hit a jumper from the right-side of the key with 3:22 to play that put Huntington in front, 61-59, and drained two free throws with 1:56 left to give the Oilers a 66-61 lead.

Ishimoto scored 11 points, which included hitting an open three-point shot that tied the score at 59-59.

Among Clifford’s 12 points was a short jumper that tied the score for the final time at 61-61 with 2:42 left, and a three-point shot that drew the Seahawks to within 68-64 with 1:23 remaining.

Ocean View’s Avery Johnson led all scorers with 28 points. Anthony Pancoast scored 11 more for the Seahawks.

Kimber’s 17 points led a foursome of Oilers in double figures. In addition to Kimber’s 17 and 10 by Carroll, Nick Becker contributed 16 points and Nick Neser had 14 points.

Huntington was coming off a 65-61 Sea View League win at Woodbridge. Kimber scored 20 points for the Oilers.

Between beating Golden West League rival Westminster Friday and Monday’s loss at Huntington, Ocean View fell 69-57 to Canyon of Anaheim at the one-day MLK Invitational at Century High in Santa Ana Saturday. Johnson, who scored all 12 of Ocean View’s points in the first quarter, finished with 17 points and Ishimoto scored 12

In other boys’ action:

Edison enters Friday’s second-round of Sunset League play at 3-2 following a 63-38 thumping of rival Fountain Valley.

The Chargers, now 11-10 overall, were coming off a 55-53 road loss at Esperanza.

Edison’s Kyle Boswell topped all scorers with 24 points. Carl Eberts scored 13 points.

“We played very inspired coming off a tough loss to Esperanza,” Edison Coach Rich Boyce said. “The players showed lots of emotion and energy and we got on top of the Barons early and played well throughout. Fountain Valley was coming off of an energetic game versus Marina and I think we caught them a little tired, which Marina tends to do to teams. Still, we played well and are happy to be in the position we are now.”

Marina is still looking for its first Sunset win after the Vikings lost at Newport Harbor, 81-71. Brendan Holmes hit six three-point shots and finished with 21 points and Garrett James had four three-pointers and closed with 15 points for the Vikings. The Vikings, who had entered league play with an 11-5 record, are now 11-10.

The Friday schedule for local boys’ basketball has Edison hosting Marina in Sunset League action, Huntington at Trabuco Hills in Sea View League play and Ocean View at home to Santa Ana in Golden West League play. All games tip off at 7 p.m.

In girls’ action

Ocean View went to 4-0 in Golden West League play after winning handily, 69-43, over visiting Westminster. Clarissa Holz scored 19 points and Rachel Sweezy had 12 points for the Seahawks who improved to 12-7 overall.

Marina ended the first-half of Sunset League play in second-place at 4-1 following a 46-29 triumph at Newport Harbor. Rita Sitivi led all scorers with 18 points as the Vikings improved to 11-8 overall.

Edison also ended the first-round of Sunset League play at 4-1, doing so by romping past Fountain Valley, 57-37.

Victoria Lockhorst scored 12 points and hauled down 20 rebounds, Bonnie Samuelson had a game-high 21 points and Kelly Peterson added 12 points for the Chargers, who won their fourth-straight league game to improve to 15-3 overall.

Huntington rallied from 10 points down to force overtime with Woodbridge, then got outscored 7-2 in the extra period and suffered a 57-52 loss in Sea View League play.

Noelani Viloria, who hit a two-point shot in the closing seconds to send the game to overtime, scored 16 points. Jasmine Erving had 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Oilers who suffered their first league loss (3-1) and are now 16-5 overall.

On tap for the local girls’ teams at 7 p.m. tonight: Marina hosts Edison, Huntington is at Trabuco Hills and Ocean View is home to Santa Ana.