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Adam Zahn makes a statement Saturday night against Inglewood in the Pacific Shores Tournament finals. Photo by Ray Vidal |
Fairfax overcomes Redondo rally to win tourney
by Lenny Miller
Two of the states premier basketball teams did battle Saturday night in the finals of the 50th annual Redondo Pacific Shores Tournament, with Fairfax holding off Redondo 67-57.
The Redondo Sea Hawks are fresh off of last year's CIF championship and return with four of five starters. The lone lose is Dijon Thompson now a member of the UCLA basketball squad.
Redondo faced a formidable foe after reaching the finals of their own tournament, matching up against LA City powerhouse Fairfax. Ranked 9th in the West by Student Sports magazine, accompanied by state player of the year candidate Evan Burns who has committed to UCLA, heavy anticipation loomed.
Following Redondo's Friday night semi-final win, one of Redondo's own shining stars junior Wendell White welcomed the test of Fairfax and Burns.
"This is what we have been waiting for," said White.
Though Redondo trailed throughout the night against Fairfax, the game was played evenly. Both clubs sunk 23. The difference in the final score was due to outside shooting. Fairfax made seven more 3-pointers.
Redondo trailed at the end of the first quarter 16-11, after being tied at 11 with 1:24 left. Point guard Keith Ellison got Redondo going in the second quarter, scoring the first six points. White and Ellison kept Redondo within reach through the first half. White scored 14 of his game high 30 points in the first two quarters. Redondo trailed 36-28 at halftime.
Burns was unable to get going against Redondo’s zone in the first half, when he was limited to five points. Six-foot- 11 Paul Meynen of Redondo who spent most of the night matched up with Burns, talked about making his presence known. "I wanted to make sure he was getting hit (in the paint) so he could feel it," said Meynen.
In the third quarter Fairfax came out looking strong. Three minutes into the second half Fairfax jumped to a 43-30 lead. White continued his strong play knocking down a pointer to cut the lead to 37-43. At the end of the third Redondo trailed 51-43.
The final quarter brought the action to another level. With 5:30 remaining White again hit for three, making the score 50-52. Fairfax, as it had done all night, responded with a three of it's own. Adam Zahn of Redondo played strong, posting a double-double with 10 points and 16 rebounds. Two of his free throws cut the lead to three points. With 3:39 White was fouled on a three-point shot. But after hitting two and cutting the lead to 55-57, Redondo would get no closer.
Fairfax once again used the three as it's lethal weapon to push the lead to seven with 2:06. Redondo was forced to foul Fairfax to close out the game, increasing the margin and final 67-57.
Redondo head coach Tom Maier, in his first season, knew his team came to play, despite probable let down from a loss. "At the end we didn't have the finisher."
Despite Redondo's containment of Burns to eight points, the highly touted senior walked away with the MVP of the tournament. Redondo's Ellison earned Most Outstanding honors, while Zahn and White were named all-tournament.
Leading up to the final, Redondo knocked off Jefferson and Palisades handily. In the semi-final Friday night, the third place finisher Horizon of San Diego tested Redondo. Redondo prevailed in a 60-54 win, outscoring Horizon 35-24 in the second half. ER