SoCalHoops High School News

A Word About Redondo Beach
From Someone Who Knows--(Dec. 17, 1998)

We've been following Redondo for the last few weeks, and they are playing some of the best basketball they've played in years notwithstanding the transfer of Marcus Moore (6'-4" Sr. PG) to Dominguez.  We were missing a few details about their performances last week at the Tournament, and we mentioned as much in one of our articles on the early rounds of the TOC.  And guess who came through with some deep background?  Redondo's coach, Jim Nielsen, and here's what he had to say:

Here is some info for you on Redondo and our play in the Tournament of Champions.

We started on Monday after taking third in our Pacific Shores Tournament . Our record was 6-2 as of Dec. 12, 1998.

On Monday we defeated Ayala 74-70 behind the play of Andrew Zahn and Walter White (both who made all tourney in each tournament) Zahn got a career high 39 point and 23 rebounds. Walter White is playing great and deserves serious consideration for a feature story. [We'll do one soon].

On Wednesday we come back and played Mater Dei. We lost 68-51 and Zahn was held to 6 points as you stated in your wrap-up.  What was not said though, was that Zahn was called for four fouls in the first 9 minutes and had to sit on the bench for long periods of time.  Give credit to Mater Dei as they defeated us but I am itching to play them again .

Thursday, we defeated Centennial of Corona and received huge play again from White & Zahn ( triple double if you count blocks) with great contributions from Dijon Thompson, Titus Hunt, and Keith Ellison ( who in my opinion is the best freshman point guard I've seen this year).   Saturday, we defeated Crenshaw while going 16-29 from the foul line. Dylan Mathis is back from last week's injury and we played them tough and squeezed it out at the end.

Hope this helps with your coverage, and when our team which only starts one senior matures we will be as formidable as anyone.  Our next tournament is in Delaware, where we'll play in the Slam Dunk to the Beach, a national tournament with some of the best competition in the country.  By the time we're finished in Delaware,  we will have played at least 5 teams rated in the top 20 in the nation in Street & Smith. 

Go figure. I believe we will be playing our best ball in league and the play-offs.

I love your site and thank you for any help you can offer.

Jim Nielsen

Wow.  Losing to Mater Dei, beating Ayala, Corona Centennial and then Crenshaw.  We'll try to keep up with the Slam Dunk to the Beach results which gets started next week and runs from the 26th to the 30th.  Stay tuned.  

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