MISSION VIEJO — All four boys basketball teams in the Sea View League had 1-1 records after they had played two league games.

Aliso Niguel could separate itself from the pack if it continues to play like it did in the second half of Friday night’s game against Mission Viejo.

The Wolverines overcame a 10-point deficit for a 65-53 victory over the Diablos in a league game at Mission Viejo High.

Aliso Niguel is 2-1 in league and 13-7 overall. The Wolverines are tied for first place with Dana Hills, a 58-51 winner over El Toro in a league game Friday.

Mission Viejo is 1-2 in league and 12-9 overall.

Aliso Niguel senior guard Ethan Harrington led all scorers with 18 points to equal his season high.

Wolverines senior guard Ryan McElroy scored 13 points. Juniors Kodai Fujii and Garrett Thayer added 10 points each.

Mission Viejo junior guard Jaden Hubbard scored a team-high 14 points. Senior guard Isaiah Tolmaire and junior forward Alex Frost scored 12 points each.

Aliso Niguel junior forward Garrett Thayer talks about the Wolverines’ 65-53, win over Mission Viejo. Aliso trailed 17-7 in the first quarter; it was 30-30 at halftime … pic.twitter.com/PUEfI7oQK7

— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) January 21, 2023

The Diablos jumped to a 17-7 lead in the first quarter. It was 30-30 at halftime.

Aliso Niguel fell behind  in the opening seconds of the third quarter before going on a 12-0 run capped by Tanner Shone’s frozen-rope 3-pointer that gave the Wolverines a 42-32 advantage.

Frost, who is 6-foot-7 and has a physical style around the basket, was a major factor in the Diablos’ first-quarter start. He scored seven points in the first quarter.

When he fouled out two minutes into the fourth quarter, Mission Viejo was relegated to outside shots and the Diablos had difficulty making those.

Aliso Niguel was up 50-46 when it made its fourth-quarter surge.

Fujii made a 3-pointer, Harrington turned a Mission Viejo turnover into a layup and after the Diablos turned it over again, Thayer made a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give the Wolverines a 58-46 lead with 2:16 remaining.

The Wolverines outscored the Diablos 35-23 in the second half.

Thayer said the Wolverines took the court in the second half determined to be better than they were in the first half.

“We were mad about some things,” he said.

“I got three stupid fouls in the first half, so I didn’t want to do that in the second half. Take some charges (in the second half) and get No. 4 (Frost) out of the game. He’s pretty good.”

One of the things the Wolverines and Coach Keith Barnett had to be upset about was their nine first-half turnovers, including six in the first quarter.

“I thought we just did a better job taking care of the ball,” Barnett said. “We sort of gathered a little poise and we hit some shots. I thought we just competed.”

Barnett said Friday’s game, in which four Wolverines scored in double figures and different players made key plays at different times, was an accurate sample of the team’s season.

Aliso Niguel coach Keith Barnett does a postgame interview after the Wolverines defeated Mission Viejo on Friday, Jan. 20 in a Sea View League boys basketball game. (Photo by Steve Fryer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

“We got a bunch of guys who are nice players who play hard,” Barnett said. “We don’t have to rely on one guy. We’ve got a lot of guys who can help us out.”

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Aliso Niguel, No. 17 in the Orange County Top 25, plays at Dana Hills in a league game Monday. The Wolverines beat Dana Hills on Jan. 11.

Mission Viejo’s next league game is at El Toro on Monday. The Diablos defeated El Toro on Jan. 11

Barnett expects the league race to remain tight.

“At any point anyone can beat anyone’ Barnett said.” We’re happy to get a win. Mission’s a good team.”

The Diablos were without starting guard Trey Tolmaire, a junior who was traveling for a football recruiting visit at the University of Miami in Florida. He was an All-Orange County first team defensive back this past season.