Peninsula Pays Back Redondo in Semi-final of Holiday Classic

The stage was set and the two Bay League foes were matched up against one another for another time before the Bay League begins in the 2nd week of January. Back in November just after Thanksgiving, Redondo and Peninsula faced one another in the 3rd round of the Westchester Trevor Ariza Tip-Off Tournament and Peninsula was still stinging from a 2 point loss to Westchester the night before. On this night the Redondo Seahawks got the better of the Peninsula Panthers and walked away with a hard fought victory of 70-69.

On Tuesday night at 6:00 PM the Panthers who had won the first 2 games of the Mira Costa Holiday Tournament, faced off again against Bay League foe Redondo Union and the Panthers were looking for a little pay back from the Ariza Tournament. The Panthers came out of the gate strong and with a relentless attack in the lane and some key outside shooting the Panthers quickly jumped out to a 9-2 lead. The Panthers only watched as Redondo made a run of their own and got to within 9-8 when the Panthers came alive again and ran off 8 unanswered points to take a 17-8 lead going into the 2nd quarter. The Panthers were the quicker team tonight to loose balls and they appeared to be playing with a chip on their shoulders.

The 2nd quarter began and the Panthers looked like they were just beginning to warm up and they systematically went after the Seahawks with a vengeance. The Panthers pressure caused numerous unforced errors by the Seahawks and the Panthers began making the Seahawks pay for each and every mistake. The Panthers were controlling the backboards on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court and they started shooting hotter in the 2nd quarter. When the final horn sounded indicating that it was half-time the Panthers had out scored the Seahawks 24-13 in the quarter and they lead 41-21.

The 3rd quarter began and the Seahawks came out of halftime looking to get back into the game and they went on a very quick run that got them to within 12 points of the Panthers. The Panthers gathered themselves and methodically went about what had gotten them to this point and they began to force turnovers by the Seahawks and the Panthers were capitalizing on them. The quarter ended with both teams netting 15 points and the score was now 56-36

The 4th and final frame began with Redondo trying to make a run on Peninsula but Peninsula had an answer for everything that Redondo did. If Redondo came down and hit a three the Panthers would respond with a 3 of their own. If Redondo made a 2 point bucket Peninsula answered them right back. With time winding down in the quarter and clock now becoming the enemy of the Seahawks they began fouling the Panthers in an attempt to get possession of the ball back. The Panthers did an adequate job of stepping to the foul line and taking care of business and making their foul shots. The Panthers and Seahawks ended the game with each team scoring 19 points and the final score was Peninsula 75- Redondo 55.

The Panthers will now play for the championship of the Mira Costa Holiday Tip-off on Wednesday at 7:30 PM against the host team Mira Costa. The Panthers were led tonight by freshman Won’ya Singleton 26 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals, freshman Jack Engstrom added 15 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal and Junior Nick Frasso chipped in 11 points,9 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots.