redondo beats mira costa

46th Annual Pacific Shores:
Redondo Edges Mira Costa For Third--(December 7,1997)

Well, we couldn't be at both the finals of the 13th Annual Simi Valley Tip-Off Classic between Simi Valley and Chaminade and the finals of the 46th Annual Pacific Shores Tournament featuring two great games between Mira Costa and Redondo for third place, and Serra and Fairfax for the Championship, unless of course we got cloned, and barring a miracle of modern genetic medicine, we had to settle for finding someone else to cover the Pacific Shores Tourney for us. Well, actually they found us, and our hero is Jason Day, who will be writing reports for us from time to time. Here's his take on the Mira Costa-Redondo game (with just a bit of editing from us :-) ) and by all accounts, this was a genuine classic. Host Redondo won, and so we congratulate the 1997 46th Annual Pacific Shores Third Place Team Redondo Union High, and the Fourth Place team, Mira Costa, on games well played. And from this account, we think you'll agree, it must have been a phenomenal game to witness. Here's Jason Day's report:

Most die-hard basketball fans will tell you that a great high school game is more fun to watch than a great game at any other level. Why? Drama. Emotion, twists and turns, ups and downs. Like a classic black and white movie, no aliens, no car chases, just a great plot with heroes and villains and emotion. The Redondo vs. Mira Costa game, for third place in the Pacific Shores Tournament, was all that (and a bag o’ chips).

Redondo won this one 65 – 63, taking third place, and it made the final game between Serra and Fairfax almost anti-climactic. But there was enough excitement to go around for all. Redondo had to fight off a Mira Costa team that did almost everything they needed to do to win.

Mira Costa managed to successfully foul Sea Hawk star Andrew Zahn out with 3:30 left in the fourth. Mira Costa took advantage by feeding their big guy inside, Jesse Boyd, who poured in 21 points while shooting 66%. They made great passes to their outside scoring threat, Jimmy Darr, whenever Redondo shut things down inside for Boyd. Darr responded with 20 points, shooting 80% from the field including 3 for 3 from downtown. They played great defense on Redondo’s other star, Marcus Moore, to almost shut him down in the second half after a brilliant first half. Almost.

Redondo starts:

Andrew Zahn (6’-9" So C/F)
Marcus Moore (6’4 Jr G)
Titus Hunt (6’-2" Jr G)
Tyler Hoffman (6’-2" Sr G)
Levi Staufer (6’-3" Sr F).

Mira Costa starts:

Scott Elling (6’-1" Sr G)
Jimmy Darr (5’-11" Sr G)
Jeff Amaral (6’-2" Sr G)
Tim Ulibarri (6’-5 Sr F)
Jesse Boyd (6’-8" Sr C)

Redondo Coach Jim Nielsen started the game strategy with a no-brainer. Get the ball to the consensus best Sophomore out here, Zahn. When you can’t do that, then let your 6’-4", smooth with much game, point guard Moore take it to the rack almost at will. Mira Costa Coach Glenn Marx used a 2-3 zone for most of the 1^st quarter and could only watch as Moore would shred it with sweet moves to the hoop, or nice passes to Zahn or Staufer inside. Mira Costa had trouble getting in sync on offense. Some of that was their guards not really being in sync early on. It didn’t help matters when Elling, a nice point with a lot of game and experience, got injured with 2:00 min to go in the 1^st and never returned. Redondo’s 1-2-2 press caused some turnovers and forced Mira Costa to scramble when they appear to be more comfortable with a controlled half court offense. End of 1^st quarter: Redondo 20; Mira Costa 11.

Second quarter. Pretty much like the first except Mira Costa switched to a man to man. It didn’t seem to make much difference on the score board, and Redondo continued to pretty much have their way. Marcus Moore controlled the attack with his ball handling and smooth moves to the basket, while Zahn intimidated on defense, and, when he wasn’t making a strong move to the hole, dished outside to Tyler Hoffman for the oh so sweet jumper. Ah but just like any good drama there has to be a twist or turn in here somewhere. With 3:00 min. left in the 2^nd, Zahn picked up his 3^rd personal. Uh oh.

Nielsen leaves him in for about 2 more minutes. Mira Costa starts to go at him immediately (well coached team!!). It doesn’t pay off, yet. He doesn’t pick up his 4^th. When Zahn finally goes to the bench with about 1min left in the half, Mira Costa makes a move. Boyd scores easily after getting the ball repeatedly in great position in the paint. This team is very well coached and has great discipline and patience. When the big guy went to the bench, they pounced like hyenas on a jackrabbit. But Redondo is more than Andrew Zahn. Moore and Staufer ran a classic pick and roll followed by a great kick out to Staufer for a 3 at the buzzer. Half-time: Redondo 34; Mira Costa 26.

Third quarter: Pretty much status quo until the plot thickens 2 minutes in. Zahn is doing a masterful job of playing with three fouls while the Mustangs are going to the rack repeatedly. Then it happens. Two minutes into the quarter, Zahn picks up his fourth on a real questionable call. He goes to the bench with Redondo up 38-30 and 6:00 min. left in the 3^rd.

Mira Costa pounces again. Boyd gets the ball deep in the paint on almost every possession. Whatever play or scheme the Mustangs run, it ends with Boyd getting the rock near the basket. With this weapon ready and loaded, Jimmy Darr finally comes out of his minor funk on the outside shooting end, and suddenly, Boom, Boom, Boom: Darr hits--Three pointer, two pointer, three pointer. Redondo remains poised, but just can't keep up with the onslaught. Tyler Hoffman then gives us a glimpse of the dramatics to come by hitting a couple of big shots to keep Mira Costa from just running away from them. This kid is one big-time clutch shooter, off the dribble, off the screen, and from damn near anywhere on the floor. But Mira Costa is doing big work in the paint.

Then an almost comical moment with :37 seconds left in the 3^rd: Mira Costa gets 5 consecutive offensive rebounds, on one possession, and eventually puts it in the bucket. Nielson shoots out of his chair and replaces the whole Redondo team on the floor. But, his team was still outscored 15-7 in the 6:00 min. Zahn was out, including a 3 at the buzzer by Darr.

Fourth quarter: It’s on. All bets are off. It’s crunch time. Pick your cliché. See-saw game for the first four and a half minutes. Then, Zahn picks up his 5^th with 3:30 left in the game. He goes to the pine for good with 10 points, 7 boards, 1 assist, and 3 blocks. Mira Costa continues to follow the "party line" i.e., get the ball to Jesse Boyd. And for good measure, have Jimmy Darr continue to shoot that pretty J of his. And just in case that ain’t enough have Tim Ulibarri play some hyped up defense, get 6 rebounds, and dish out 4 assists. I like a kid who falls back on D and slaps the floor everytime he gets set in his stance. Nice game.

Redondo’s problem at this point, other than the obvious, was that Moore had pretty much disappeared for the second half. Not to worry. They’ve got this player named Hoffman. He hit some major shots in this game including two 3’s in the fourth (one of which was from NBA range late that brought the entire crowd (not just Redondo fans) up and out of their seats. This was a classic drama.

So now there’s 1:35 left and Mira Costa’s big gun from the outside, and one of their keys getting the ball inside, Jimmy Darr fouls out. He's got 20 points on 8 for 10 shooting, 3 for 3 from downtown, 2 steals; great game. But he's gone. The Mustangs were up by 3 or 4. Moore then goes coast-to-coast on a pretty lay-in. Mira Costa turnover. Moore gets the ball on the wing and blows a lay-up. Jesse Webster, playing behind Zahn, gets the offensive rebound and is fouled with :30 left.

Webster misses the first one, makes the second to tie it. Up and down the court once or twice and the Mustangs have an inbound at half court with :18 secs left. Marx calls a terrific play that peels Boyd off streaking to the basket. He gets the ball facing one defender who forces him to go for a reverse lay-up.

Redondo inbound to Moore, who plays the Roadrunner role again, and streaks length of court for the lay-in.

For Redondo, Moore finished with 18 points ( 9 for 14), 2 boards, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Levi Staufer contributed a real big 11 points (4 for 7), 4 boards (2 offensive), and 1 assist. This kid can shoot the ball and plays bigger than 6’3. But my MVP for Redondo in this game was Tyler Hoffman, 16 points (6 for 10, 3 for 5 from 3pt land) 1 board, 2 assists. It’s not the shots he hit, it’s when he hit 'em. This guy was in the pressure cooker several times in this one and he came through almost everytime. Poised and confident, he has one of the prettiest J’s I’ve seen in awhile.

For Mira Costa, Boyd had a great game with 21 (10 for 15), 11 boards, and 2 assists. He’s not near as mobile as Zahn, but he knows how to stake out prime real estate in the paint, and knows what to do with the pill when he gets it in there. Darr was on fire in the second half and it sure would have been interesting to see what Elling could have brought to this game.