Sports
Sea Hawks Shots Don't Fall, So They Do
Redondo Union drops key Bay League game to West Torrance 45-43. The Sea Hawks have a long shot chance at the end, but a half-court heave by Derek Biale at the buzzer misses the mark.
The Bay League clash between Redondo Union and West Torrance on Tuesday might have lacked a great deal of scoring, but it did not lack for drama as the final seconds ticked away.
Down by two points, the Sea Hawks’ Derek Biale had a half-court heave at the buzzer that would have won the game. The shot ended up hitting glass, but no rim, and West held on for a 45-43 victory over Redondo, which shot the ball poorly and was lulled into playing at a pace that favored the Warriors.
“We made a game of it at the end, but we did not play intelligently tonight,” Coach Tom Maier said.
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“We had to push the ball against them. They like the game in the low scores and we played to the tempo they like.”
The Sea Hawks (9-9, 1-2 in league) still had chances. Redondo had a 27-26 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but West’s Fidel Herrera opened the period with a 3-pointer to give the Warriors the lead.
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Biale, who scored nine points in the final quarter, canned a three from the wing to put the Sea Hawks back on top at 30-29. Jacquise Bates then drove the lane and scored with four minutes to play to increase the Sea Hawks’ lead to three.
It did not last long, however. Shawn Ray, the Warriors’ 6-foot-8 center, scored easily from close range and was fouled. He knocked down the free throw to tie the score at 32.
With 3:20 to play, Biale was fouled on a 3-point attempt that nearly went in, and worked on his release between free throws. It worked–he made all three attempts.
Nicky Roos countered for the Warriors with a triple to tie the score once again, and West took a lead at 38-35 when Rasad Cobbs came out of a timeout and knocked down the Warriors’ seventh 3-pointer of the game.
Redondo got to within 44-43 in the final minute when Biale hit a 3-pointer, but the Warriors were able to escape with their first Bay League victory.
Martyre Demarco led the Sea Hawks with 13 points, followed by Biale with 11 and Bates with 10. Mwelu Mataya led Redondo with 20 rebounds.
Frustration was shared equally.
“This was huge for Bay League,’’ Biale said. ‘’We felt we had the urgency, but this was unexpected.’’
