As time ticked down late in the fourth quarter with the outcome long decided, Redondo Union senior guard Devin Wright caught a backboard pass from teammate Chase Holley in midair and slid it through the hoop with both hands — the exclamation point to an emphatic 85-51 win over the Mira Costa Archives on Friday night.
Wright finished with a game-high 23 points — most of them on layups while cutting down the basket — junior forward SJ Madison scored 19, Holly had 17 and Chris Sanders added 16 as the Seahawks, ranked No. 2 in the Southland by the Times, remained unbeaten in the Gulf League and sent a message to their rivals.
Redondo Union’s SG Madison shot a jump shot during an 85-51 win over Mira Costa on Friday.
(Steve Galluzzo/For The Times)
“We knew this 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 were getting open looks and hitting them.”
Madison and Bucks Bill forward Mira Costa traded baskets throughout a fast-paced first quarter, which ended with the host Seahawks leading 20-18. They extended the lead to seven at halftime and used a 23-7 run in the third quarter to put the game away.
“The Chase is a big weapon, but we are all weapons,” Wright said. “If they double-team him, it leaves someone else open. We all took our turn.”
Bell led the 19th-place Mustangs (18-4, 3-1) with 15 points, while senior shooting guard Luke Lowell and junior wing Strax Dragicevic each added 12 points.
The two teams shared the league title last winter, with each of them winning on the opponent’s soil. On Friday, the Seahawks (18-3, 4-0) showed they have the skill and talent to win the title outright.
“We didn’t want to split the league with them last year,” Wright said. “So this year, it’s all ours — and we’re taking it.”
Mira Costa’s Bucks Bell scored on a layup over Redondo Union’s Chase Holley in the first period on Friday.
(Steve Galluzzo/For The Times)
Redondo Union beat Mira Costa 72-66 in the CIF State Section regional semifinals last season before losing to Sierra Canyon in the next round — falling one win shy of the state finals. The Sea Hawks fell short of pool play in the Southern Open Sectional playoffs while Mira Costa fell to Los Alamitos in the Southern Section Sectional 1 final. However, that was then, and this is now.
The two teams meet again to conclude Bay League action on February 3 in Manhattan Beach.