Redondo girls edge Mira Costa for Bay League hoops title
Redondo’s Ami Nyingifa scored 10 points in helping the Sea Hawk’s win the Bay League championship. Photo
Redondo’s defense stopped rival Mira Costa when it needed it most giving the Sea Hawks a thrilling 40-39 home victory and the girls Bay League championship in the regular season finale for both teams.
Both teams entered the game with identical 8-1 league records and were tied for the No. 2 spot in the CIF Southern Section Division 2AA poll. The win gave Redondo (20-6, 9-1) its first Bay League crown since 2011 and avenged its 42-36 loss at Mira Costa earlier this season.
After Ami Nyingifa’s shot gave Redondo a 40-37 lead with 1:45 remaining, Haley Tojo’s steal and basket pulled Mira Costa (20-6, 8-2) to within one point with less than one minute left in regulation.
With 5.1 seconds left, Mira Costa’s Devon Feaster in bounded the ball, getting it into the hands of the Mustangs’ top scorer, Allie Navarette. Reaching the baseline, Navarette attempted to drive to the basket but Redondo’s defense swarmed the sophomore who expected to be going to the foul line for two free throw attempts. No foul was called and her errant shot ended the game.
“We got the play we wanted,” Mira Costa coach John Lapham said. “It’s always a hard match with Redondo. It’s a hard loss for the girls but I expect them to bounce back for the playoffs.”
The contest was one that has come to be expected when the rivals meet. The game was tied at 14 at the end of the first quarter and, after Halle Maeda’s 3-pointer gave Mira Costa a one-point lead, Redondo’s Nao Shiota nailed a shot with her back to the basket to give the Sea Hawks a 24-23 lead at halftime.
Mira Costa’s Haley Tojo drives to the basket during the Mustang’s one-point loss at Redondo. Photo
Redondo held a five-point lead in the third quarter – the largest for either team in the game – before Tojo answered with 3-pointer to keep the Sea Hawks from pulling away. Keilani Ikehara’s 3-pointer gave Mira Costa a 33-32 lead entering the fourth quarter.
“This was double bonus points to win it (league championship) on senior night and against our arch rival,” Redondo coach Marcelo Enriquez said. “I’m so proud of our performance. We thought the first time we played Costa we played at their tempo. This time we picked up the tempo a little bit which was a key factor for us and it played out in our favor. We got more transition points and defensively we were a lot more focused and aggressive. This definitely gets us ready for the playoffs.”
Tore Lee led Redondo with 11 points and Nyingifa recorded 10 points, six rebounds and three steals.
“The first time we played each other, near the end of the game our communication on defense was bad,” Lee explained. “This time we were a little more focused and pushed through to the end. It was great to win league in front of such a great crowd.”
Navarette had 12 of her team-high 16 points in the first quarter. She also had seven rebounds, five steals and one block. Patience Taylor added six points, six rebounds and two blocks for Mira Costa.
Both teams are expected to have high seeds when the CIF-SS playoff brackets are announced Sunday.