SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: ANYANWU TURNS IT ON FOR CRESPI.

Byline: Daily News

Kingsley Anyanwu scored 29 points to lead Crespi of Encino to a 75-45 victory over visiting Twenty-Nine Palms in the first round of the Southern Section IV-AA boys' basketball playoffs Friday.

Anyanwu's performance helped rescue the Celts after a nearly disastrous third quarter. Crespi (20-6) held a 37-16 lead at halftime but took more than 3 1/2 minutes to get its first points of the third quarter, while the Wildcats (11-14) opened with eight straight points.

A Celts lead that had been as much as 23 late in the first half was cut to 11 midway through the third period.

Anyanwu, Andrew Moore and Allan Ellis were instrumental in getting Crespi back on track. The trio provided nine of Crespi's 15 points of the quarter in the final minute.

Moore finished with 13 points and Ellis had 14, including a 10-of-10 performance from the free throw line.

- Heather Gripp

In other Southern Section boys' basketball:

--Notre Dame 67, Santa Paula 56: Michael Luderer scored 23 points and Cody Pearson added 16 to lead the Knights of Sherman Oaks to a Division III-AA victory at Notre Dame.

The host Knights extended a seven-point halftime lead to 13 before Santa Paula started to rally. The Cardinals cut the lead to six points with 5:09 remaining thanks in part to a game-high 29 points from Ryan Frutos, but couldn't overcome Notre Dame's rebounding and free-throw advantage.

Notre Dame made nine crucial fourth quarter free-throws and was able to overcome two baskets taken away on controversial charging fouls.

``The key to the game was our rebounding and hustle,'' Notre Dame coach Rob DiMuro said. ``I thought they brought a great effort all over the court. But they didn't have anyone to stop Cody, and Mike got off to a good start for us.''

Ruben Sanchez and David Hungerford added 13 and nine points, respectively, for the Knights.

Only Frutos made a significant contribution on offense for Santa Paula. Luis Rico scored seven points for the Cardinals and Ernesto Lopez and Paul Bustos each scored six.

- Jack Pollon

--Camarillo 65, Quartz Hill 64: Ian Caldwell hit a 3-pointer with 18 seconds remaining in the game to lift Camarillo (15-13) to an upset victory over Quartz Hill in a Division I-AA game at Quartz Hill.

Camarillo closed the game with a 15-0 run, highlighted by a pair of Derek Rasp 3-pointers that helped erase a 16-point halftime deficit.

Rasp, Caldwell, Brad Boyer and Jared Jungwirth all scored in double figures for the Scorpions, whose outside shooting helped them overcome Quartz Hill's zone defense.

Tony Johnson led Quartz Hill with 25 points, including 12 in the second quarter, but missed a driving lay up that would've given the Rebels' the lead on their final possession.

The Rebels' (17-7) were forced to play without junior guard Mychael Williams, the team's second leading scorer. Williams was at the hospital after suffering a knee injury at school.

- Kevin Flavin 

--Crescenta Valley 72, Marina 61 Chris Tarne scored 18 of his game-high 24 points in the first half as the Falcons (21-6) beat the Vikings (11-17) in the opening round of the Division I-AA playoffs.

Crescenta Valley led only 15-14 after one quarter but went on a 21-2 scoring run during the first five minutes of the second quarter to take a 36-16 lead.

Jimmy Goffredo, playing in his first game since recovering from a bout with mononucleosis, scored his season average of 19 points and dished out four assists. Teammate Tim Kula grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds for the Falcons.

James Jenkins chipped in 13 points with eight rebounds and five blocks for Crescenta Valley before fouling out with 2:30 remaining in the game.

Marina was led by James Lambert with 16 points and Beau Brown added 14 points.

- George Vranau

--Loyola 83, Valencia 67: Sophomores Omar Wilkes and Chris Rucker combined to score 45 points for the Cubs (17-8) in a Division I-A game at Valencia.

Wilkes finished with 27 points and scored most of his baskets on driving lay ups. Rucker, 6-foot-5 forward, added 18 points for Loyola, which will host Warren in a second-round game Tuesday night.

Valencia (15-13) was led by Albert Ingram and Jose Velasquez, who each scored 18 points.

The Vikings trailed by only nine points late in the third quarter but a late 8-0 run by the Cubs ended the threat.

- Bryan Rodgers

--La Canada 64, Costa Mesa 44: Senior forward Jordan Ballard scored 21 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead the Spartans (22-6) to a second-round Division III-AA victory over the Mustangs (17-10) at Costa Mesa.

Senior forward Philip Swenson added 13 points and 12 rebounds and also went 7 of 10 from the free-throw line. Junior center Greg Gaudino had 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks for La Canada before fouling out late in the game.

Sophomore point guard Billy Hofman keyed an 18-3 second half run to extend the Spartans' lead to 18 points with six minutes remaining. Hofman finished with nine points, five assists and five steals.

Costa Mesa was led by junior guard David Conte, who made four 3-pointers and had a team-high 16 points. Center Mike Payne added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

- Shawn Clingan

--University 84, Palmdale 65 Jason Garey scored 33 points with five rebounds and Hiro Cristoph added 13 points to lead the Trojans past the Falcons in a first-round Division I-AA game at University.

Garey set a Orange County playoff record by making 11 of his teams 17 3-point baskets. University is one 3-point basket away from the all-time CIF record of 294 in a season.

The Falcons (12-15) were able to stay close for three quarters even though they had 22 turnovers and missed 15 free throws. Jason Chambers stole a pass at mid-court and took it in for a lay up midway through the fourth quarter to bring Palmdale to within six points, 59-53.

University (16-10) proceeded to score nine straight points behind three consecutive 3-pointers by Garey. Chambers ended the game two assists shy of a triple double with 15 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. David Hall added 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Falcons.

- Rob Moscato 

--Lancaster 83, Buena 65: Michael Wright scored 19 points to lead the host Eagles (20-6) to their first basketball playoff victory in the school's five-plus years of existence in a Division I-A game.

- Gideon Rubin

--Westlake 58, La Serna 50: Adam Mazarei (seven assists) and Kole Anderson (five assists) each had 14 points for the Warriors (15-9) in a Division II-A game at La Serna (21-8).

--Chaminade 63, Burroughs (R) 53: Jordan O'Gilvie had 20 points and Scott Borchart added 15 points and seven rebounds for the Eagles (19-8) in a Division III-AA win at Burroughs Ridgecrest.

--Montclair Prep 62, Woodcrest Christian 37: Eric Kaufman led all scorers with 30 points, helping the Mounties of Van Nuys (13-13) to the Division V-AA win at Woodcrest Christian.

--L.A. Baptist 58, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 56: Brian Sanders had 22 points, Michael Madigan added 17 points and Andrew Peterson contributed 10 points for the Knights of North Hills (15-8) in a Division IV-A game at Calvary Chapel.

--Buckley 98, Thatcher 67: Colin Ward-Henninger had 36 points on 18-of-25 shooting and 13 rebounds to lead the Griffins of Sherman Oaks (22-3) in a Division V-AA game at Buckley.

--Antelope Valley Christian 76, Acaciawood 52: Jamal Flanagan had 29 points and 11 rebounds for the Eagles (20-6) in an easy Division V-A win at Acaciawood Prep.

--Stoneridge Prep 59, Cuyama Valley 54: James Williams had 19 points and Mike Neng added 12 for the Wildcats of Tarzana (18-8) in a Division V-A win at Cuyama Valley.