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Sierra Canyon boys basketball rallies to beat Redondo in Division I regional final

  • Sierra Canyon’s Stephen Kankole, #3, and teammates celebrate a win...

    Sierra Canyon’s Stephen Kankole, #3, and teammates celebrate a win over Redondo Union in the CIF State Regional Division I championship game at Sierra Canyon on Tuesday, March 10, 2025. Sierra Canyon defeated Redondo Union 74-68 and will go to Sacramento for the state championship Friday. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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Sierra Canyon’s Stephen Kankole, #3, and teammates celebrate a win over Redondo Union in the CIF State Regional Division I championship game at Sierra Canyon on Tuesday, March 10, 2025. Sierra Canyon defeated Redondo Union 74-68 and will go to Sacramento for the state championship Friday. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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CHATSWORTH — The look on the face of Redondo boys basketball coach Reggie Morris told the tale of Tuesday’s CIF SoCal Regional Division I final.

It was a look of frustration and sheer exhaustion after his Sea Hawks battled Sierra Canyon throughout the night, but it was the final minute where the game was decided.

Sierra Canyon’s Gavin Hightower converted a big three-point play with 47 seconds remaining. Redondo had a chance to tie the game with 25 seconds left, but Hudson Mayes’ 12-footer was long. Hightower was eventually  fouled and went to the free throw like to secure a 74-68 win for the Trailblazers.

The win sends Sierra Canyon to the CIF State championships in Sacramento and leaves Redondo (28-6) just short of its goal.

“Both teams played good, both teams played hard,” Morris said. “It came down to which team could get more stops. They got a few more stops than we did. It’s always really hard (to come close and not win). The kids put in a lot of work, the coaching staff put in a lot of work. Our goal was to make it to the state finals. When that doesn’t happen it stings a little.”

One big disparity in the game was at the free throw line. Sierra Canyon attempted 33 foul shots, compared to 14 for Redondo.

When asked about the foul shooting disparity Morris declined to comment. He did credit the Trailblazers for their aggressiveness in getting to the basket.

“We needed to get in front of the ball, but they kept driving the ball and getting to the basket and we didn’t make any adjustments,” he said. “Our hats off to them.”

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Going into the fourth quarter Sierra Canyon led Redondo by one point, but senior Brayden Miner hit a tough 15-footer to give Redondo a 56-55 with 6:47 to play.

That would be the first of 10 lead changes in the quarter.

Miner finished with 14 points including four 3-pointers.

Sierra Canyon would score its next six points from the free-throw line with Hightower hitting four to build a  65-62 lead with 3:15 to play. Redondo would claw back with its defense as Miner would get a steal which would lead to two free throws for Chace Holley to cut the lead to one. Less than a minute, later another steal would lead to a breakaway dunk by SJ Madison to give the Sea Hawks a 66-65 lead with 1:47 to play.

“We didn’t enough things that we needed to in order to win,” Miner said. “We didn’t do the small details and that was the difference. This is hard for us because a lot of us our seniors and this was our last ride together.”

Sierra Canyon’s Maxi Adams (22 points, 12 rebounds) would get fouled inside with 1:31 to play for a 67-66 lead. Mayes would answer one final time for Redondo with a short jumper to give Redondo a 68-67 lead. That was Redondo’s last lead of the night. Sierra Canyon would score the final seven points to take the game and leave Redondo just short of reaching its first state finals since 2013.

“This was a tough way to end the season,” Mayes (19 points) said. “We knew it would be tough in a hostile environment like it was tonight. We fought hard, but it just wasn’t enough.

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“These three years I have played at Redondo were the best years of my life. I want to thank the coaches for everything they did for us. We improved each year and got to this point this season which was great. I’m going to miss these guys next year.”

 

 

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