Redondo Union Boys Basketball Defeats Democracy Prep 87-61

The Redondo Union boys basketball team showcased their determination and skill with a commanding victory over Democracy Prep, winning 87-61 at Harvard-Westlake’s Winter Showcase. This win marks the Sea Hawks’ third consecutive victory, improving their record to 3-0 this season. The team is motivated by their near-miss in last year’s CIF State playoffs, where they fell short in the regional semifinals.

Redondo Union started the game slowly, with both teams closely matched during the first ten minutes. Following a timeout, the Sea Hawks found their rhythm, launching a decisive 21-6 run that shifted the momentum in their favor. SJ Madison led the team with an impressive performance, scoring 23 points while contributing six rebounds, four steals, and two blocks. His efforts were complemented by Devin Wright, who added 17 points, and Chris Sanders, who chipped in with 14 points and six rebounds.

Team Resilience and Strategy

Madison emphasized the importance of aggressive defense after the game. “Our coaches are always telling us that we have to play aggressively on defense, and we weren’t doing that early in the game,” he stated. “But we started to pick it up in the second quarter, and things just went from there. We are trying to beat everyone. We don’t want to lose at all.”

The Sea Hawks demonstrated their offensive prowess in the second half, with Madison scoring eight of the first twelve points, expanding their lead to 31 points with just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter. Although Democracy Prep trimmed the deficit to 19 points late in the game, Redondo responded emphatically. Madison scored a layup, followed by Wright, who netted eight consecutive points within the last minute of the quarter, pushing the Sea Hawks’ advantage back to 29 points.

Wright remarked on the team’s focus, saying, “We are just trying to keep that aggressive mindset every game. We all have worked so hard in the offseason learning a lot from last year, and we don’t want to let that happen again. These early games will get us ready for what we will face when we get to league and the playoffs.”

Coaching Insights and Future Goals

Despite the convincing victory, Head Coach Reggie Morris acknowledged that there are areas for improvement. “We didn’t get off to a good start in the first half. I just told my guys that they have to start playing with more urgency and get more aggressive on defense,” he said. “We started doing that, and we were able to get things going, but I still believe we could have played much better.”

Morris highlighted Madison’s performance as a key factor in the team’s success, indicating that his energy set the tone for the game. He also noted that Wright has the potential to elevate his game further, stating, “He will be a guy we need to be good for us.”

The Sea Hawks have designed a challenging nonleague schedule to prepare for their upcoming Bay League games and the CIF-SS playoffs. As they build on their strong start, the team remains focused on their goal of returning to the CIF State finals and avoiding last season’s heartbreak.