Under first year head coach Reggie Morris, Jr., Redondo High's boys' basketball team has shown a lot of improvement, despite its 10-8 overall record against mostly a very rigorous schedule that included some state and nationally ranked teams.
That 7-8 preseason slate helped prepare the Sea Hawks for the highly competitive Bay League and Redondo is 3-0 in league after overcoming a poor shooting first half for a 54-47 victory over West Torrance on Tuesday at Redondo.
Both teams used very stingy defenses, as the Sea Hawks used a full-court press for virtually the entire game, while the Warriors used a spread out 2-3 zone.
West's zone, however, thoroughly stifled Redondo's leading scorer, junior guard Ian Fox, who was shut out in the first half and finsihed the game with only three points.
The Warriors started out well against the Sea Hawks' press, as senior point guard Stephen Inouye was able to weave around the Redondo defenders and found open players, who were able to convert on key baskets and dash out to a 19-14 halftime lead.
The second half saw Redondo slowly progress, although West led by as many as eight points early in the third quarter. The Warriors led, 33-32, after the third period, but it was senior guard Derek Biale that took over. He converted on back-to-back three-point baskets to help Redondo take a 44-36 lead
The Sea Hawks would lead by as many as nine points and put the game away in converting on key free throws.
Redondo was led by Biale with a game-high 14 points. Darrien Touchstone added 11 points.
Six-foot-8 center Terrell Carter, who was very effective on defense, also led West's scoring with 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Redondo will host a struggling Palos Verdes team (7-11 overall and 0-3 in Bay after a 67-45 home loss to hill rival Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula on Tuesday) on Friday at 7:30 p.m., in preparation for its league showdown at Lawndale Leuzinger next Tuesday at the same time. The Sea Hawks also host Lawndale in its own Martin Luther King, Jr. Showcase Classic next Monday at 8 p.m.
The Warriors (12-6, 1-2) will host Leuzinger in league on Friday and hope they can pull off an upset over the Bay favorites, that return nine players from last season's league title and CIF-Southern Section Division IIA quarterfinalist. The Olympians are currently second in the Southern Section Division IIIAA.
On Tuesday, Leuzinger rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to top host Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, 60-52.
Bishop Montgomery wins big over Serra: Bishop Montgomery High's boys' basketball team from Torrance won Round I of the Del Rey League showdown against Gardena Serra, 58-34, last Friday at Serra.
The Knights were only leading, 26-23, at halftime, before their stingy defense held the Cavaliers to just 11 second half points (including two in the fourth quarter). Bishop Montgomery, which is 19-0 overall after another big 74-63 non-league win at Bellflower St. John Bosco on Saturday, outscored Serra, 32-11, in the second half, including 14-2 in the final period.
"We controlled the game," Bishop Montgomery head coach Doug Mitchell said. "We have an experienced team. They'll (Serra) be tougher next time."
The two teams meet, again, on Jan. 30 at 5 p.m. at Bishop Montgomery.
The Knights (2-0 in league and ranked 13th in the United States by Max Preps Xcellent 25) were led by Steven Thompson with a game-high 19 points and Pepperdine University-bound Lemond Murray, Jr. with 18.
The Cavaliers (13-4 overall and 1-1 in league) were led by Tavrion Dawson with 13 points and Ajon Efferson with 10.
Bishop Montgomery visits St. Bernard in Playa del Rey Friday at 5 p.m.
Serra will be at Bishop Amat in La Puente Friday at 7 p.m.
Redondo girls stun West: Redondo High's girls' basketball team picked up its first Bay League victory in big fashion Tuesday at home.
The Lady Sea Hawks knocked off defending league champion West Torrance, which is also this year's Bay favorite, 46-41.
Inara Nyingifa led Redondo (10-9, 1-2) with a game-high 29 points and 11 rebounds. Bella Hall added seven points and 11 rebounds. Kourtney Noa contributed three steals and seven rebounds.
Defensively, the Sea Hawks forced 18 turnovers on the Warriors (13-7, 2-1).
West was led by Kirsten Kiehm with 13 points and five rebounds. Sydney Chase chipped in 11 p oints. Kayla Sato had seven points and seven rebounds. Kylie Fuijoka tallied seven points and 11 rebounds.
Redondo has been plagued with injuries, being without four players this season.
The Sea Hawks will seek their second straight league victory as they host Palos Verdes Friday at 6 p.m.
The Sea Kings, who fiinished second behind West last season, are faced with mostly a young and inexperienced squad. They fell to Penininsula, 51-27, Tuesday at P.V.
West hosts lowly Leuzinger in league Friday at 6 p.m. The Olympians were routed by host Mira Costa, 63-18, on Tuesday.
Westchester rolls over Palisades: Westchester High's girls' basketball team improved to 3-0 in the Western League and 17-5 overall by downing Palisades, 58-33, Monday at Westchester.
The Lady Comets were led by Destinee Brown with 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and seven steals.
Atheana Jones totaled 18 points, four asssits and two steals. De-ja Dozier added 10 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, five blocks and three steals.
The Dolphins fell to 3-1 in league.
Westchester will host Fairfax in Western play Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
The Comet boys also topped Palisades, 69-60, on Tuesday. They host Fairfax in a key league showdown Thursday at 7 p.m.
Snyder's Top 10 Prep Basketball:
Boys: 1. Bishop Montgomery, 2. Westchester, 3. Serra, 4. Leuzinger, 5. Inglewood, 6. Redondo, 7. Mira Costa, 8. Narbonne, 9. Peninsula, 10. San Pedro.
Girls: 1. Serra, 2. St. Bernard, 3. Narbonne, 4. Bishop Montgomery, 5. Culver City, 6. West Torrance, 7. Westchester, 8. Peninsula, 9. Carson, 10. Mira Costa.
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