Chris Sanders lifts Redondo Union boys basketball team to a thrilling 62-61 win against Basha to capture Nike Tournament of Champions Saguaro Bracket crown

MESA, Ariz. – After delivering several clutch baskets to help the Redondo Union High boys basketball team reach the Saguaro Bracket final at the Nike Tournament of Champions featuring Hoophall West, junior SJ Madison decided to take over at the defensive end Saturday night against Basha High of Arizona.

That created an opportunity for Chris Sanders to produce the biggest offensive play of the tournament for the Sea Hawks and the sophomore forward responded to the challenge.

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Sanders converted a three-point play with 12 seconds remaining, helping Redondo Union complete its comeback from a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to capture the title with a 62-61 victory at Skyline High.

Freshman Lleyton Leonard missed the potential winning 3-point attempt for Basha from the left corner with three seconds left and Chace Holley grabbed the rebound to preserve the Sea Hawks’ win.

Hudson Mayes, who scored 11 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter for Redondo Union (16-2), made a layup with 30 seconds left to cut the deficit to 60-59.

Mason Magee, an all-tournament selection for the Bears (12-4), made one of two free-throw attempts with 23 seconds remaining to build a two-point lead, before Sanders’ heroics capped the impressive rally for the Sea Hawks, who overcame a 51-41 deficit in the final 7:30.

After Magee scored 20 points Friday to help Basha achieve a 72-67 come-from-behind victory against La Mirada in the semifinals, the junior guard was held limited to eight points in the championship game and held without a field goal in the second half.

Madison, who received most valuable player honors, had eight points and six rebounds, but was the defensive catalyst for Redondo Union responding to a seven-point deficit with 3:45 remaining by outscoring Basha by a 13-5 margin down the stretch.

Madison finished with 50 points in three Saguaro Bracket contests, with all-tournament selections Mayes and Sanders – who contributed 14 points and seven rebounds against Basha – adding 47 and 27 points, respectively, for the Sea Hawks.

Chris Sanders, left, with SJ Madison and Hudson Mayes of Redondo Union | Jerome Reed photo

Brayden Miner produced 14 points, including four 3-point field goals, for Redondo Union.

Kingston Montague, a freshman guard, also received all-tournament recognition for Basha, which held a 49-39 advantage entering the fourth quarter.

Leonard had 13 points, Drew Alexander added 10 points and DeSean Middlebrook contributed seven points for the Bears.

La Mirada 72, Volcano Vista (New Mexico) 69, 2 OT: The Matadores (15-4) rallied from a 17-point, first-half hole and overcame an 11-point deficit in the final five minutes to secure third place Saturday in the Saguaro Bracket at Skyline High.

Julien Gomez tied the score on a 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime, before King Riley-Owens produced the deciding layup with 37 seconds left in the second extra period and added a free throw in the waning moments to create the final margin of victory.

Julien Gomez of La Mirada | Jerome Reed photo

Jarrett Cole also came through with a clutch steal for the Matadores to secure the win after trailing 38-21 in the second quarter.

Gene Roebuck, a sophomore, had 25 points for La Mirada, with Riley-Owens contributing 15 points, all in the second half and the two overtime periods.

Gomez was an all-tournament selection for the Matadores, scoring nine points Saturday and finishing with 64 points in three tournament contests.

Cole also had nine points for La Mirada, which scored 10 of the final 12 points in regulation to force overtime after relinquishing an 11-point lead in the final five minutes Friday in its semifinal loss to Basha.

Kenyon Aguino, an all-tournament honoree, and David Lunn both scored 20 points apiece for Volcano Vista (8-2), which suffered back-to-back losses for the first time since 2021.

Houston Brown added 12 points for the Hawks, who led 66-65 in the first overtime, before Riley-Owens made a free throw with 28 seconds remaining in the extra period to extend the contest.

Corona Centennial 69, Williams Field (Arizona) 45: The Huskies (7-13) built on an eight-point halftime advantage with a strong third quarter to secure seventh place Saturday in the Saguaro Bracket at Skyline High.

Freshman Kai Patton scored 16 points, all in the first three quarters, and Isaiah Rogers added 11 points for Corona Centennial.

Jayden Yim contributed nine points and CJ Richardson scored eight points for the Huskies, who led 47-30 entering the fourth quarter.

Patrice Mpouli had 11 points, with Markee White, Jr. and freshman Adan Diggs each adding nine points apiece for Williams Field (9-4).

Sonoran Bracket

Santa Margarita 75, Campbell Hall 51: Highlighted by nine 3-point field goals, junior Kaiden Bailey led the Eagles (14-3) with 35 points in the consolation final Saturday at Skyline High.

Bailey finished with 82 points in three tournament contests, including 15 3-pointers, for Santa Margarita.

Kaiden Bailey of Santa Margarita | Erik Boal photo

Dallas Washington and Brayden Kyman both contributed 14 points apiece for the Eagles, who rebounded from a 57-56 loss Thursday to eventual Sonoran Bracket champion Boulder Creek of Arizona (10-3) by producing a pair of impressive victories against California rivals St. Pius X-St. Matthias and Campbell Hall.

Drew Anderson added seven points for Santa Margarita, which raced to a 28-8 lead following the first quarter.

Isaiah Johnson led the Vikings (11-5) with 24 points, James Bass added 17 points and Nikita Kochnev scored eight points for Campbell Hall.

St. Pius X-St. Matthias 61, Ironwood (Arizona) 40: The Warriors (10-6) relied on a 21-point fourth-quarter output to prevail in the seventh-place contest Saturday at Skyline High.

Douglas Langford, Jr. scored 15 points and Omari Cuffe added 11 points for St. Pius X-St. Matthias.

Christopher Blakely, Jr. and Saul Anaya contributed seven points apiece for the Warriors, who led by a 40-33 margin entering the fourth quarter.

Josh Dillard led Ironwood (8-5) with 13 points.