Devin Wright leads Redondo Union to win over rival Mira Costa
With the clock ticking late in the fourth quarter and the outcome long decided, Redondo Union senior guard Devin Wright caught a pass off the backboard from teammate Chace Holley in mid-air and slammed it into the hoop with both hands — the exclamation point of an emphatic 85-51 victory over Mira Costa Archive on Friday night.
Wright finished with a game-high 23 points — most of them on layups while cutting to the basket — small forward SJ Madison scored 19, Holley scored 17 and Chris Sanders added 16 as the Sea Hawks, ranked No. 2 in the Southland by the Times, remained undefeated in the Bay League and sent a message to their competitors.
Redondo Union’s SJ Madison shoots a jumper during an 85-51 win over Mira Costa on Friday.
(Steve Galluzzo / For Time)
“We knew it was a big game and I had to be there for my team,” Wright said after scoring 18 points in the final two quarters. “We saw early on that they couldn’t contain us, so we opened our sights and hit them.”
Madison and Mira Costa forward Paxx Bell traded baskets throughout a fast-paced first quarter, which ended with the host Sea Hawks up 20-18. They pushed the lead to seven at halftime and used a 23-7 run in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
“Chace is a powerful weapon, but we are all weapons,” Wright said. “If they double him, that leaves someone else open. We all took our turns.”
Bell led the 19th-ranked Mustangs (18-4, 3-1) with 15 points, while senior shooting guard Luke Lowell and junior forward Strax Dragicevic each added 12.
The two teams shared the championship title last winter, each winning on the opposing field. On Friday, the Sea Hawks (18-3, 4-0) showed they have the skills and talent to win the title.
“We didn’t like sharing the league with them last year,” Wright said. “So this year it’s all ours – and we’re taking it. »
Mira Costa’s Paxx Bell scores on a layup against Redondo Union’s Chace Holley in the first half Friday.
(Steve Galluzzo / For Time)
Redondo Union defeated Mira Costa 72-66 in the CIF State Division I regional semifinals last season before losing to Sierra Canyon in the next round – falling one win short of the state final. The Sea Hawks failed to advance out of pool play in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs, while Mira Costa fell to Los Alamitos in the Southern Section Division 1 final. However, that was then and is now.
The teams reconvene to conclude Bay League play on Feb. 3 in Manhattan Beach.
