Sunset League hoops ready for action

The 2008 Sunset League basketball races get underway tonight with a full slate of girls’ action. On Friday, the boys take the court for their league openers.

In girls’ league action at 7 p.m. tonight, Edison hosts Marina. Friday at 7 p.m., boys’ play finds Edison at Marina.

Huntington Beach teams begin Sea View League play next week when the Oiler girls visit Northwood Tuesday and the boys’ team plays at Northwood on Wednesday.

Ocean View’s boys’ and girls’ teams begin defense of the Golden West League title with the launch of league play next week. On Tuesday, the girls’ team travels to Santa Ana and on Wednesday, the boys’ squad also plays at Santa Ana.

All games have 7 p.m. tip-offs.

In holiday boys’ hoops action:

Marina tuned up for Sunset League play by finishing in third place at the KSA Tournament at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

The Vikings went 3-1 in the tournament, defeating Whitesboro of N.Y., 102-54, Dirigo of Maine, 90-71 and Portsmouth of Rhode Island, 97-74. Their lone loss was a 74-64 setback to Steel Valley of Pennsylvania.

In the 97-74 rout of Portsmouth, which was Marina’s final game of the tournament, Garrett James nailed 10 three-point baskets to finish with 40 points. Brendan Holmes connected on eight three-pointers and had 27 points. Dion Douglas scored nine points and had six assists, Tyler James had 10 assists and Jimmy Irvin had six rebounds and four steals.

Marina has won six of its past seven games.

The Vikings took a three-game win streak to Florida after grinding out a 69-66 road win at South Torrance, rolling past Beckman, 75-54, and by defeating Northwood, 90-56, at the North-South Challnege at El Toro High.

In the win over South Torrance, Steven Murray hit two free throws with just under a minute to play to give Marina the lead. Holmes made seven three-pointers and was nine for nine from the foul line en route to a game-high 32 points. Garrett James had 20 points and five steals, Brian Roberts had seven rebounds and Tyler James had seven assists.

In the 21-point home win over Beckman, Holmes had 23 points, Garrett James 13 points and Trevor West added seven rebounds and four points. Murray had seven rebounds, Andrew Moore contributed six rebounds and five steals and Dana Gomez tallied six points and 10 rebounds.

In the 34-point conquest of Northwood, the Vikings connected on 19 three-point baskets, with Holmes hitting 10 of them to finish with 30 points. Garrett James had 24 points, Irvin had nine steals and five assists, Tyler James seven assists and five rebounds and West had four points and eight rebounds.