Leuzinger Is No Match for Redondo, 75-49

Redondo High won the first Sea Hawk Classic and snapped Leuzinger’s five-game win streak by defeating the Olympians, 75-49, Thursday night at Redondo.

Redondo (12-2) rolled through the basketball tournament with an average margin of victory of 44 points.

Thursday’s game was close for almost a half, then Redondo outscored Leuzinger, 13-1, to close the second quarter and take a 33-20 halftime lead.

Leuzinger (7-4) center Wendell Robinson was called for his third foul with 3 minutes 1 second left in the second quarter. Robinson took a seat and Redondo went on its 13-1 run.

The 6-foot-8 Robinson, who was named to the all-tournament team, scored a team-high 13 points, had seven rebounds and blocked six shots. Most of his points came from the outside, a sign of Redondo’s tough defense.

“We don’t design a defense to stop any one player,” Redondo Coach Jim Nielsen said. “(Assistant) Tim Myers came up with a great defensive game plan that kept them from coming inside.”

Redondo senior forward Damani Washington scored 17 points and was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

“Washington is a great player and a great finisher,” Nielsen said.

Senior guard Morgan Ensberg scored a game-high 20 points and was named the tournament’s most outstanding player.

Redondo center Brian Hattingh scored 16 points and was named to the all-tournament team.

Nielsen praised his team for winning what became a physical game.

“There was a lot of extracurricular stuff going on out there, we did a good job keeping our composure,” Nielsen said.

Leuzinger Coach Eric Wilson said his team struggled from the start.

“We were off-beat, we didn’t have a good effort,” Wilson said. “This game was not at all indicative of our ability. They caught us on a bad night.”

Redondo will play host to Inglewood on Wednesday in a nonleague game.