Redondo Rallies, Wins II-A Title

Redondo, with only freshmen and sophomores in its starting lineup, won its third section title in the last six years, but the top-seeded Sea Hawks’ 56-53 Division II-A victory over second-seeded Brea Olinda might have aged them 20 years.

Redondo (28-3) built an 11-point lead in the first half but had to rally from a four-point deficit with three minutes left in the fourth quarter. The win wasn’t without anxiety and, for Brea (24-7), controversy in the final seconds.

Nikki Awaa, Brea’s fourth option on the final play of the game, was left open for a three-point shot at the buzzer that fell an inch short of tying the score. “It looked like it was going to be all net to me,” Redondo Coach Marcelo Enriquez said.

Sophomore Courtney Price had given Redondo a 54-53 lead with 1:28 left with two free throws. That was no small task: Price missed her first six free throws, and finished nine of 16 from the line. She finished with 19 points.

Freshman Atonye Nyingifa scored 20 with 13 rebounds, and Renahy Young added 13 points, including the final two on free throws with 11.5 seconds left.

One of the most questionable calls came with 1:13 remaining, when Brea sophomore Jeanette Pohlen was called for traveling near midcourt. Pohlen was nine of 18 from the field, eight of 12 from the line, and finished with a game-high 26. No teammate scored more than six.

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The anticipated showdown in the Division I-AA final never developed as Long Beach Poly handed Lynwood a 58-34 defeat.

Poly’s victory was so one-sided that senior April Phillips didn’t score in the first half -- but eight teammates did -- and the Jackrabbits (27-3) held a 31-17 halftime lead. Phillips finished with six points.

Freshman Jasmine Dixon scored 13 in the first half and finished with 24 for Poly, which won its first title since 1995.

Ranked No. 1 in the Southland by The Times and No. 2 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, Poly had beaten Lynwood, 62-54, in a Jan. 8 game it trailed until the final 2:45. Seventh-ranked Lynwood (26-5) had won four consecutive championships. The Knights trailed, 12-11, when Poly went on an 11-0 run.

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Top-seeded Brentwood (21-6) made 20 of 34 free throws -- including six of 12 in the final 56 seconds -- to hold off Monica DeAngelis and Los Angeles Windward in the fourth quarter to win its second consecutive Division IV-A title with a 53-47 victory.

DeAngelis, a freshman who scored 15 points for third-seeded Windward (21-6), made three of her five three-point baskets in the fourth quarter. Windward, which doesn’t have any seniors, made six of 13 free throws.

Brentwood’s Brianne Brown had 14 points, nine rebounds and four steals, and Tani Brown scored 13.

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J.J. Magbanua made a short running shot in the final minute to give top-seeded and defending champion L.A. Pacific Hills (25-4) a 40-39 victory over Palos Verdes Estates Rolling Hills Prep in the Division V-AA final.

Jasmine Watts, who missed a 17-foot shot with three seconds left, led Rolling Hills (19-7) with 15 points. Helen Suarez had 13 to lead Pacific Hills.

-- Martin Henderson

Wrestling

Brian Moreno of Santa Ana Foothill kept alive his hopes of joining an elite group by cruising through three matches of the 112-pound weight class during the first day of the state wrestling championships Friday at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.

Moreno, a state champion in 2003 and ‘04, is seeking to join 11 others who have won three state titles. Lawrence Jackson of Santa Monica (‘84-86) and Scott Chapman of Lake Arrowhead Rim of the World (‘91-93) are the only Southern Section wrestlers to accomplish the feat.

Juan Archuleta of Hesperia Sultana scored the biggest upset of the first day, a 3-2 decision over Brandon Zoeteway of Concord De La Salle, the top-ranked 119-pounder in the state. John Kaho of Shingle Springs Ponderosa upset top-ranked heavyweight Gabe Moore of Apple Valley Granite Hills with a pin in the quarterfinals.

Kipp Bowman and Cory Beeson each advanced to the semifinals for Temecula Valley. Santa Ana Calvary Chapel has Justin Paulsen and Brian Osuna in the semifinals.

-- Peter Yoon