Basketball blowout

Huntington boys tune up for trip to Florida with a dominant victory over Bolsa Grande.Richard Alvarez and his coaching staff encouraged their Huntington Beach High boys’ basketball team to play disciplined basketball against visiting Bolsa Grande in a nonleague matchup Friday.

He also advised them not to get caught up in the score.

And this was before the game even began.

You couldn’t blame the Oilers if they did glance up at the scoreboard from time to time, as the numbers there would make anyone do a double-take.

Huntington raced out to a 19-point first-quarter lead over the visiting Matadors and rode that hot start to a 65-25 romp.

The 40-point victory came in the home opener for the Oilers, who improved to 6-4.

Huntington enjoyed a 22-3 lead through one quarter of play and led, 36-8, at half.

The Oilers defense did not give up more than nine points in a single quarter, and the 25 points were the fewest allowed by an Alvarez team in his five years as head coach.

“We just wanted to come out and play with some energy, have an exciting home opener,” Alvarez said. “Going into the game, we told the kids to play with discipline, hold them to one shot.

“The game got out of hand, and these are tough games to get through. It’s tough to stay focused, but I thought our guys did a nice job the entire game.”

Ten Oilers broke into the scoring column, led by Jeff VanDoornum with 15 points.

Brian Gee added 11 points and Greg Bartolme nine for the Oilers.

Huntington departs Surf City Monday for Orlando, Fla., where the Oilers will compete at the KSA Holiday Basketball Tournament. Thirty-two prep teams from across the nation will compete at the event.

Huntington opens tournament play Wednesday against Abington of Pennsylvania.

The tournament is hosted by Walt Disney World, and the Oilers will stay at a Disney hotel and visit the theme parks while in Orlando.

“This is going to be a great experience for our team,” Alvarez said. “Even though the trip includes more than basketball, it’s important that we stay focused.

“We are going there to have a good time but can’t forget what we’re going to Florida for, and that’s to play some basketball. We need to have a good balance.”

In other boys’ basketball action:

In the fifth-place game at the Tournament of Champions boys’ basketball tournament at Ocean View High, Clovis West pulled away from host Ocean View in the fourth quarter of play to post a 56-46 victory.

Ocean View trailed, 38-33, heading into the fourth quarter.

Diego Delgado led the Seahawks in scoring with 17 points and Brad Sweezy scored 10.

In an earlier tournament game, Ocean View let a seven-point halftime lead slip away against L.A. Birmingham and suffered a 72-66 loss in pool play.

Sweezy and Delgado scored 22 and 21 points, respectively, and Brandon Ishimoto added 10 more for the Seahawks.

Ishimoto also scored 20 points to lead Ocean View in a 60-52 win over J.Serra in other pool play action. Also scoring in double figures for the Seahawks were Sweezy and Delgado with 13 and 12, respectively.

At the Fullerton Tournament, Marina held off Anaheim 59-53. Garrett James scored 15 points, Troy Lewis 14, Sean Starkey 12 and Bryce Overend 11 for the Vikings.

In another consolation bracket game, Marina was a 70-62 winner over Verbum Dei.

Following Christmas weekend, the local boys’ basketball teams will enter holiday tournament play.

On Monday, Marina begins play in the Century Tournament (Dec. 26-30) in Santa Ana. Ocean View, meanwhile, will compete for the title at the Torrey Pines Tournament (Dec. 26-30).

On Tuesday, Edison which is finishing up play today at the Maui Invitational in Hawaii, begins play at the Coast Classic (Dec. 27-30) at Estancia High.

In girls’ basketball:

Marina picked up a 53-35 nonleague win over visiting Aliso Niguel. The Vikings, who ran to a 32-14 halftime lead, were led by Allison Budzinski who scored 15 points and Rachael Maulit with 12.

Edison drilled Warren, 65-21, in nonleague play. Wahine Kepilino scored 19 points and Kelly Peterson 13 to lead the host Chargers.

Holiday basketball tournament play is up next for the four local schools.

On Monday, Ocean View will compete at the Santana Classic (Dec. 26-30).

On Tuesday, Marina and Edison begin play at the Larry Doyle Orange County Championships tournament (Dec. 27-30), and Huntington begins first-round action at the San Marcos Tournament (Dec. 27-30).