Winning ugly, as Redondo head coach Reggie Morris Jr. calls it, has become a common occurrence for the Sea Hawk basketball team lately and Saturday’s game was no different.
Known for its stifling defense, second-seeded Redondo gave up 42 points through the second and third quarters before pulling out a 63-56 overtime win over seventh-seeded Thousand Oaks in the second round of the CIF State Division II Regionals.
Junior guard Ian Fox scored a game-high 22 points for Redondo, despite battling through pain after a flagrant foul in the second quarter landed him on his back.
Although the Thousand Oak defense limited Redondo scoring machine Derek Biale to nine points, Sea Hawk forwards Darrien Touchstone and Chris Henderson stepped up.
Touchstone recorded 14 points, five rebounds and three steals and Henderson added 12 points, six rebounds and two steals to help Redondo win its 18th straight game.
After Fox’s two free throws tied the score 54-54 and sent the game into overtime, he connected on a long jump shot to open the extra period. Two points were added to the scoreboard but officials later deemed it a 3-pointer causing controversy among the Thousand Oaks faithful. Missed free throws by the Lancers allowed the Sea Hawks to pull away.
Redondo (25-8) will play its third consecutive home game Tuesday when the Sea Hawks host third-seeded Hoover of San Diego (31-5) in a semifinal contest at 7 p.m. The winner advances to the regional finals on Saturday and will face the winner between top-seeded J.W. North and No. 4 Westlake at 12 p.m. at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario.
Bay League runner-up Leuzinger earned the ninth seed in Division III but fell to top-seeded St. Augustine of San Diego 65-45 in the second round Saturday.
In Division IV, wins by Bishop Montgomery and Serra could set up an all-South Bay final in the Southern California regional. Sixth-seeded Bishop Montgomery (31-1) routed No. 14 St. Joseph 70-44 and will play at second-seeded Army/Navy Academy (29-4) in Carlsbad on Tuesday.
Top-seeded Serra (26-6) eliminated Mater Dei Catholic (Chula Vista) 65-49 and will host fifth-seeded Pacific Hills (26-4) in the semifinals.
