Costa-Redondo games more than just rivalries
Patience Taylor and the Mira Costa Mustangs have the Bay League title in their sights. Photo
Bragging rights are always important when Mira Costa and Redondo play each other, but Thursday’s regular-season finales for basketball and soccer teams will have the additional importance of determining next week’s CIF playoff picture.
The most intriguing match up will be at Sea Hawk Pavilion when the girls basketball teams from both schools square off at 6 p.m.
The teams entered the week tied for first place in the Bay League and Redondo is looking to avenge its 42-36 loss at Mira Costa on Jan. 27
Mira Costa (10-5, 8-1) and Redondo (19-6, 8-1) are tied for second in the CIF-SS Division 2AA poll.
The Mustangs had their six-game winning streak snapped Saturday losing to Oaks Christian (No. 2, Div. 4AA) 50-35 in a game that was one of 10 played in the two-day Play4Kay Showcase, a fundraising event for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
Mira Costa rebounded with a 64-6 victory at Morningside on Tuesday. Thirteen players scored for the Mustangs who were led by the team’s leading scorer this season, Allie Navarette, who recorded 11 points.
The Mustang’s offense is led by senior Keilani Ikehara whose ball-handling skills are among the best in the area. Coach John Lapham has also been impressed with the play of sophomore Alexa Underwood.
“Alexa has played incredible ball the last few games,” Lapham said. “She will play a big role in our playoff run.”
“Redondo is a well-coached team and very physical,” Lapham said. “Their gym is a tough place to play for any opponent and we look forward to the challenge. It should be a lot of fun.”
Redondo defeated host Palos Verdes 54-17 on Tuesday. Coach Marcelo Enriquez’s team has outscored its opponents 311-116 in the five games after losing to Mira Costa. One of the victories was a 57-51 win at Troy (No. 3, Div. 1A).
The Sea Hawks will look for big games from forwards Ami Nyingifa and Kyra Hamlin along with guards Micaela Enriquez and Nao Shiota.
Brackets for boys and girls basketball playoffs will be released Sunday afternoon at cifss.org.
Junior guard Leland Green is Redondo’s leading scorer this season averaging 15.6 points per game. Photo
Redondo boys roll on
Redondo (20-5, 8-1) is ranked No. 4 in Division 1AA, holding a one-game league lead over Inglewood who upset the visiting Sea Hawks 57-54 on Jan. 30. The Sea Hawks are seeking their third consecutive Bay League title and host Mira Costa in the Bay League finale Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
After losing 6-foot-9 Billy Preston, who abruptly transferred, Redondo’s smaller players have stepped up with big contributions.
Guards Leland Green (6-2), Cameron High (6-0), Morgan Means (6-1), Elijah Nesbit (5-2), Ryan Reeves (6-2) and Ryse Williams (6-3) have shared the spotlight on offense while attacking opponents with a stifling, pressing defense.
Forward Cameron Williams (6-5) has become the big man for the Sea Hawks and has taken turns with Green and Nesbit as the team’s scoring leader.
Redondo defeated host Palos Verdes 64-37 Tuesday. Means scored a team-high 16 points, including four 3-pointers. High added 13 points and Ryse Williams recorded 12 points and six rebounds for the Sea Hawks.
Redondo easily handled Mira Costa in the first meeting between the rivals, defeating the host Mustangs 68-41.
Things haven’t got much better for Mira Costa who dropped its third game in a row and fifth in the last six games with a 60-54 loss at Morningside on Tuesday.
Quenton Jackson scored 15 points, Dylan Kim added 11 points and Adam Griese grabbed 14 rebounds for the Mustangs.
The loss moved Morningside into a third-place tie with Mira Costa. Both teams have identical 16-9 overall and 4-5 league records.
Boys, girls soccer teams play for second
Palos Verdes is ranked No. 9 in CIF-SS Division 1 and captured its fifth straight Bay League title with a 2-0 win over Morningside last Friday leaving Redondo and Mira Costa to battle it out for second place.
Redondo (15-8-2, 6-3) defeated Peninsula 2-1 on Friday after Manny Carrillo’s two goals gave the Sea Hawks a 2-1 victory over visiting Peninsula last Friday.
Manny Carrillo and the Redondo Sea Hawks host Mira Costa Thursday is a 3 p.m. game that will determine second place in the Bay League. Photo
The Sea Hawks traveled to Palos Verdes Tuesday and came home with a 4-1 victory. Justin Leavitt recorded his 21st goal of the season before Ryan Wadhams, Manny Carrillo and Logan Druten broke a 1-1 halftime tie with second-half goals.
The Sea Hawks will host Mira Costa at 3 p.m. on Thursday. Mira Costa edged Redondo 1-0 in the first meeting between the rivals.
“The rivalry games are special games,” Redondo coach Ignacio Lopez said. “Mira Costa brings its ‘A’ game with intensity and passion. They are physical with us and put high pressure on us all over the field. It seems like they don’t get tired. We have to be mentally and physically prepared for it and meet the demands of the game.”
Mira Costa (11-5-3, 6-2-1) shutout Inglewood 3-0 last Friday with Caley Berney, Christian Lopez and Kevin Vartan each scoring a goal.
The Mustangs posted a 3-0 win at Morningside on Tuesday. Spencer Hammond, Coleman Weaver and Ricky Angiolini recorded goals setting up Thursday’s rivalry game that will determine second place.
The girls soccer scenario is almost a mirror image of the boys. Palos Verdes clinched the Bay League title last week leaving three teams to fight it out for the last two automatic playoff spots.
Redondo (14-3-3, 6-1-2) tied host Peninsula 1-1 last Friday before defeating visiting Palos Verdes 2-1 in overtime Tuesday.
Madison Kennel scored the game winner and Aleesa Duffield scored in the first half to tie the score 1-1.
Redondo travels to take on Mira Costa in a 3 p.m. contest on Thursday.
“The Bay League is always tough and each year, playoff positions are determined during the final week of the regular season,” Redondo coach Shelly Marsden said. “The match up with Costa is always exciting. They are a strong team and well coached. We are looking forward to being at full strength and giving them all they can handle. We are committed to playing as a team and never letting up. At the end, it will come down to who can put away their chances.”
Mira Costa began the week with a 15-5-4 overall and 5-3 league record and played at Morningside on Tuesday. Also in the hunt for an automatic playoff bid is Peninsula, who started the week in fourth place.
The Panthers (12-5-3, 4-3-2) routed Inglewood 9-0 Tuesday and hosts rival Palos Verdes on Thursday.
Playoff brackets for boys and girls soccer will be announced Monday at cifss.org.