Fourth-quarter rallies by Mira Costa and Redondo girl basketball teams set up a much anticipated showdown when the Bay League rivals battle for the CIF Southern Section Division 2AA Championship Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Azusa Pacific University.
In a match up of the top two seeded teams in the division, Redondo (23-6) and Mira Costa (24-6) will play a rubber game after the two teams split their league series by a combined seven points.
In its semifinal contest Tuesday night, Mira Costa came from 12 points down in the fourth quarter to beat host Norco 59-51.
Allie Navarette led the Mustangs with 21 points, Keilani Ikehara contributed 11 points and eight assists and Haley Tojo scored 11 points in the fourth period in the win.
Mira Costa had to wait one day to find out who its opponent would be, but Redondo prevailed with a 59-54 victory at fourth-seeded Santa Barbara Wednesday night to set up the all-Bay League title game.
Redondo’s defense did not allow a point in the final 2 minutes, 20 seconds overcoming a 54-51 deficit for the win.
Mica Enriquez and Kyra Hamlin led the Sea Hawks with 17 points apiece and Amiete Nyingifa recorded 13 points in the win. Redondo enters the championship game with a nine-game winning streak.
Azusa Pacific will also host Division 2A and 3AA championships when cross-town rivals North Torrance and South Torrance play for CIF titles, respectively.
Third-seeded South Torrance (22-7) eliminated second-seeded Hart 67-49 and will face No. 9 Colony (22-7) for the Division 2A title Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
Top-seeded North Torrance (26-2) will take on second-seeded El Dorado (24-7) in the Division 3AA championship game Saturday at 9:30 a.m.
In the Division 4AA championship game, third-seeded Bishop Montgomery (17-13) will play top-seeded JSerra (23-6) Friday at 7 p.m. at Godinez High School.
Redondo boys play for state berth
Top-seeded Bishop Montgomery (29-1) has breezed through the CIF-SS Boys Open Division that included 16 of the best teams from various divisions.
The Knights will take on No. 6 Etiwanda (23-7) for the title at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Honda Center.
After dropping its first game in the Open Division, No. 8 Redondo has battled back and will travel to face No. 7 Long Beach Poly for the Consolation Championship Friday at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to the CIF State Regionals next week.
In late November, the Sea Hawks lost to the Jackrabbits 63-31 in overtime during the Pacific Shores Tournament.
In the Division 2AA championship game, fourth-seeded Lawndale (20-10) will play No. 5 Canyon/Anaheim (22-9) Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Honda Center.
State Championship brackets will be announced Sunday at cifstate.org.
