Redondo Union’s boys basketball team avenged a bitter loss that began 2013, defeating Bishop Montgomery 63-56 to claim the championship of the Sea Hawk Classic.
Bishop Montgomery beat visiting Redondo 63-56 on Jan. 5, the last loss the Sea Hawks would suffer during its run to CIF and State championships last season.
The win not only gave Redondo its second tournament title of the 2013-14 season, but ended Bishop Montgomery’s regular-season winning streak at 42 games.
The capacity crowd saw two of the top teams in the state square off. Redondo is ranked No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section Division 2AA poll while Bishop Montgomery is the top ranked team in Division 4AA.
Terrell Carter scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to pace the Sea Hawks. Ian Fox and Cameron High each scored 12 points and sophomore Cameron Williams recorded 11 rebounds.
Standing 6-foot-8, Carter was a dominant force for the Sea Hawks.
“He (Carter) gives us a presence we didn’t have in the past,” Redondo head coach Reggie Morris Jr. said.
After holding a 38-22 halftime lead and a 21-point lead in the third quarter, Redondo saw the margin dwindle to four points late in the game.
With the Sea Hawks holding a 51-47 lead, both teams traded three-point plays before Carter’s two free throw put Redondo ahead by six.
Fox sealed the victory with three free throws.
Bishop Montgomery’s Justin Bibbins was named the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after scoring a game-high 21 points.
Redondo reached the championship game after staving off a late rally by Mercer Island (WA) for a 64-57 win in Saturday’s semifinal match up.
After holding a 37-18 lead and a 21-point margin in the third quarter, Redondo saw its lead reduced to five points with less than one minute remaining but free throws by Fox and Ryan Reeves sealed the victory for the host team.
Fox led the Sea Hawks with 22 points and High added 16 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Redondo began the tournament with an impressive 87-47 win over St. Bernard, marking the first time Morris had faced the Vikings after rebuilding its program and leading the team to a CIF Division 5AA title in 2012.
In the second round, the Sea Hawks routed North Torrance (No. 7, Div, 2A) 97-56.
Morris said facing tough opponents during tournaments has provided a great learning experience for his team. Redondo’s record is 11-3 but its three losses came at the hands of highly ranked teams.
The Sea Hawks dropped its first game of the season at the Chicago Elite Classic with a 55-46 loss to BenetAcademy, a team that is ranked 13th in the basketball-talent laden state of Illinois.
In Las Vegas, Redondo placed fourth in the Tarkanian Classic after losing to the nation’s top ranked team Mater Dei 84-38 and Nevada’s top-ranked team Bishop Gorman 62-53.
“We can get better at executing,” Morris said. “With only two seniors on the team, we’re still trying to find our identity.”
On Saturday at 6:45 p.m., Redondo will face another highly ranked team in Alemany (No. 1, Div. 1A) when Morris’ squad hosts the Brand Jordan Sea Hawk Take Flight Challenge.
The seven-game event showcases some of the top teams in the state. Action begins at 10 a.m. with AnaheimCanyon (No. 4, Div. 2AA) facing Brentwood (No. 5, Div. 4A). Other games include St. Anthony (No. 7, Div. 4A) vs. Martin Luther King (No. 4, Div. 1A) at 11:45 a.m., Sheldon (No. 6, Sac-Joaquin Div. 1) vs. Santa Monica (No. 12, Div. 1AA) at 1:30 p.m., Cantwell (No. 1, Div. 4A) vs. Lawndale at 3:15 p.m., Etiwanda (No. 2, Div. 1AA) vs. Mayfair (No. 5, Div. 1AA) at 5 p.m., Redondo vs. Alemany and Compton (No. 1, Div. 2A) vs. Loyola (No. 3, Div. 1AA) at 8:30 p.m.
Mira Costa perseveres in San Diego
Mira Costa’s boys basketball team had a strong ninth-place finish in the 24th Annual Under Armour Holiday Classic in San Diego.
Ranked No. 3 in the CIF Southern Section Division 2AA poll, Mira Costa held on for a 49-47 victory over Corona del Mar (No. 3, Div. 3AA) to win the consolation bracket of the 16-team Senator’s Division on Monday.
Free throws by Jake Feder and Dylan Kim with less than one minute remaining gave Mira Costa the final two points of the game.
Justin Strings scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds while averaging 19.8 points in the tournament.
Mira Costa rebounded from a 51-45 loss to Murrieta Valley (No. 7, Div. 2A) to defeat La Mirada 63-49 and Ironwood Ridge (Tucson, AZ) 61-51.
Mira Costa head coach Jeff Amaral said he was impressed with his team’s perseverance in tough games while holding its own against 6-foot-7 and 6-foot-8 opponents.
“We have a ways to go to be where we want to be, but we continue to fill gaps with role players,” said Amaral who noted the play of senior guards Ryan Kawahara and Larry Scaife.
“Our team saw some different looks during the tournament but found a way to win,” Amaral said. “It was a great bonding trip for the players.”
The Mustangs spent their off-day on Sunday attending the overtime thriller between the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs.
Mira Costa will play Torrance in the South Bay Showdown at Staples Center at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Mustangs continue to prepare for the Bay League with a non-league game at Santa Monica (No. 12, Div. 1AA) on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
