Inglewood Crushes Redondo to Win Shores Title : Prep basketball: Sentinels pull away with 13-4 run to win the tournament for first time since 1979.

The Inglewood High boys’ basketball team staked its claim as the South Bay’s top team Saturday by beating host Redondo, 86-64, in the championship game of 42nd Pacific Shores tournament.

The Sentinels last won the 16-team tournament in 1979.

“I thought it was very important for us to come out here and win this,” Coach Pat Roy said. “We worked very hard during the summer, and we felt that we had to come out and win this to start things.”

The Sentinels (4-0) broke the game open midway through the fourth quarter when Sea Hawk Coach Jim Nielsen was called for a technical foul. The foul came after Inglewood’s Ralph Shelton had scored an uncontested basket because Redondo took too long coming out of a time out.

With the score 58-52, the Sentinels went on a 13-4 run and put the game away.

“I thought that was a big momentum switcher for us,” Roy said. “We saw things change at that time.”

Inglewood had a 41-37 lead at halftime, even though forwards Paul Pierce and Shelton had to rest because of foul trouble. Guards Sam Turks and Joe Owens stepped forward, scoring eight and five points, respectively, in the second quarter.

“Entering the game, my kids were a little intimidated about being aggressive down low,” Roy said. “They were afraid they would get called for fouls, and they did. But the subs came in and everybody did a great job. We were just trying to maintain things.”

Pierce and Shelton returned in the second half and Pierce finished with a game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds. Shelton had eight points and nine rebounds.

“Once Pierce got in the game, I thought we dominated,” Roy said. “I think our team fought real well all night.”

Redondo (3-1) was led by guard Morgan Ensberg, who had 22 points, and guard Cecil Fletcher, who had 17.

Ensberg and Fletcher were named to the all-tournament team, as was Turks and Jason Crowe of Inglewood. Other players honored included Marcus Boyd of Peninsula, Anthony McNair of Morningside, Anthony Browder of Carson, Shane Willis of Mira Costa, Gregory Metoryer of St. Bernard and Jason Pickett of Banning.

Pierce, who scored 34, 24 and 22 points in three tournament games, was named most valuable player.