Video: Shareef O'Neal finishes on top
Watch the son of Shaquille O'Neal lead his Crossroads' squad to a state-title victory Friday night. SACRAMENTO, Calif. — They already had the most wins in school history. They came in red hot, on an 11-game win streak. They'd won 17 of 18 and 29 of 31.
The girls basketball team at
Redondo Union (Redondo Beach) finished what they started and furthered the best season in Sea Hawks history with a 57-42 win over
Pleasant Valley (Chico) in the CIF State Division 2 title game Saturday at Golden 1 Center, the home of the Sacramento Kings.
Redondo Union (31-5), which trailed only once, got 17 points and four assists from sophomore guard
Alyssa Munn, while juniors
Jasmine Davis and
Dylan Horton added 11 points each en route to the program's first state title.
"It's an amazing group of girls," Redondo coach Marcelo Enriquez said. "They're a true team that is blessed with so much chemistry and talent."
Alyssa Munn scored 17 points for the state champions.
Photo by David Steutel
They showed that Saturday against a Pleasant Valley squad (25-5), which had a strong contingent of fans come down from Chico. The Sea Hawks opened up a double-digit lead in the third quarter and made 14 of 17 free throws, many down the stretch.
Once in the lead, they locked down on defense, liming the Vikings to just 35 percent shooting and 1-of-11 on three-pointers.
"Defense is a staple of what we do," Enriquez said. "For 23 years, that side of the ball has been our focus."
Like most teams, Redondo Union couldn't contain Pleasant Valley senior forward
Sirena Tuitele, who made nine of 15 shots, while scoring a game-high 21 points. She also grabbed 10 rebounds.
The loss didn't dampen a terrific season said coach Bob Paddock. The Vikings made their first state finals appearance since 1985.
"The town of Chico, went nuts for us," Paddock said. "Everywhere I went, someone would see me with a PV shirt on and go, "Oh My God!' We had a great run."
It was an even better one for the Sea Hawks, who dedicated their season to Ryse Williams, a standout Redondo Union boys basketball player who died suddenly in June following a very short and sudden bout with cancer.
Enriquez mentioned him in the postgame media session: "Nine months ago we lost one of the most magnificent young men I've ever known — Ryse Williams. It was a complete tragedy for the school and community.
"He was the Bay League MVP, had a full ride to LMU, and he epitomized what every student-athlete should represent in this country.
"We wanted to keep his spirit alive. Every time we break the huddle, we go, ‘Ryse Up!'
"His spirit had its blue print all over this team."
Redondo Union celebrates resounding state-title win at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Saturday.
Photo by David Steutel
The Sea Hawks celebrated their first girls state championship.
Photo by David Steutel
