Jeremiah Headley helps Redondo slam way to boys’ basketball state title

SACRAMENTO — With 39.3 seconds left in the CIF state championship Division II final, 6-foot-6 sophomore Jeremiah Headley of Redondo unleashed a thunderous dunk over a Pleasant Hill College Park defender that not only signaled his arrival as a top player but made the stunned crowd at Sleep Train Arena begin to realize the special accomplishment the Sea Hawks were about to pull off.

“That play is a play for the ages,� Coach Reggie Morris Jr. said.

It will be the signature moment in Redondo’s 54-47 victory over College Park, the first state basketball title in school history. But so much more was accomplished for a team that was 10-17 last season and ended Saturday night with players celebrating with a dogpile on the court.

“It’s amazing what young men can do when they get a goal and work toward that goal,� said Morris, whose father, Reggie Sr., guided Manual Arts to a Division I state title 25 years ago.

Headley finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds. He played junior varsity last season at Leuzinger.

“Hopefully it will be a play that kick-starts a great career for him,� Morris said.

Ian Fox scored 11 points and Derek Biale scored 10 for Redondo (28-8).

Division IV

The Pacific Hills guard trio of Marcus Jackson, Namon Wright and Jahmel Taylor ended their year-long collaboration with a vintage performance, combining to score all but four points in the Bruins’ 58-52 Division IV championship victory over Santa Rosa Cardinal Newman.

The Rice-bound Jackson scored 23 points. The Washington-bound Taylor scored 14 points. And Wright, a junior, had 17 points. They took charge with four minutes left and the Bruins (29-4) down by one point, helping apply defensive pressure that resulted in turnovers and points.

“We were very talented at the guard position, but they couldn’t have done it by themselves,� Coach Ivan Barahona said. “It had to be a group effort.�

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