In their second game of the new year, the Westside’s Culver City Centaurs lost to the Redondo Union Sea Hawks on Monday night game at Redondo High by a score of 78-72.

After winning their last match against Mira Costa with a score of 59-49, the Centaurs went into this game with high hopes and expectations. The Sea Hawks, too, were starting 2024 undefeated and were determined to keep it that way.  

It was shown early on in the game that this match would be competitive — and that it was. The Centaurs quickly scored two sets of free throws after the first minute, 0-4. The Sea Hawks then upped their defensive game and scored a sixteen-point run, 16-4. Chris Sanders, Brayden Miner, and Hudson Mayes were three of the Sea Hawks players who stood out. 

Finally, towards the end of the first quarter, the Centaurs were able to retrieve the ball and score a few more points. With 1:00 on the clock, shooting guards Raymar Williams and Myles Singleton each scored. Centaurs fans grew animated, yelling “LET’S GO!”  even though they were still behind by six, 18-12.

While the team took a quick rest going into the second quarter, it seemed as if both teams concluded that they had to fight for it the rest of the way. The Centaurs and the Sea Hawks started to fight for the ball more aggressively during the second quarter of the game. At one point, after both teams made a few more buckets, the Sea Hawks had to replace shooting guard Luke Neubauer with Bobby Bennett after Neubauer faceplanted trying to get the basketball into the hoop. 

While The Sea-Hawks gained six more points, the Centaurs made a dramatic turn. Making a few 3-pointers, 2-pointers, and even a free throw they gained a total of thirteen more points. The Sea Hawks pushed harder to get their team back on top. The Sea Hawk’s Devin Ringer made a free-throw after Miner scored a 3-pointer, putting their team ahead of the Centaurs, 26-25. After both teams made another few points it was evident they were going to remain neck-to-neck for some time, 28-30. 

Centaurs shooting guard Dorian Lawson pushed back and made a 2-pointer, 28-32. Upon seeing this, The Sea Hawks aimed to up their ante on the scoreboard. The Centaurs, playing more aggressively, fouled Bobby Bennett as he attempted a 3-pointer. Bennett then attempted to score all three free throws. While he did miss one, he got his team within two, 30-32. With a few seconds left on the clock point guard Hudson Mayes, dribble-drove for a score, giving them a tie by the end of the first half of the game, 32-32. 

As the teams were preparing to enter the second half of the game, I took the initiative to ask a couple of people who they thought would end up winning the game.

A former Redondo Union student, London Johnson, was hesitant to say who would win. After giving it some thought he said, “I guess, Redondo. I used to go here so I have to go for them. I also think that if they keep the momentum going — I think they will win.” 

Abigail Reddick, a current player for the Centaurs women’s basketball squad, said, “I believe in our boys. I’m here to support them because they come to support us.” 

Everyone was expecting their team to win. The cheers were heard, no matter which section one was sitting in. The Centaurs and the Sea Hawks both kept scoring for their team. Nobody backed down. As the numbers on the scoreboard increased, so did the cheers from the fans. 

Centaurs shooting guard Myles Singleton made two free throws, as the Sea Haws missed one of theirs, taking us to 74-64. During this time, Braylon Singleton pushed his way in and scored a couple of free throws for his team, 74-68. Though they were beginning to mount a comeback, the Centaurs at the same time seemed frustrated. The Sea Hawks took advantage of it and scored again, keeping them in the lead, 76-68. 

The Centaurs started to get back up as Singleton made two baskets for his team, 76-72. While the hope was for the Centaurs to keep on scoring, they unfortunately were unable to as the clock ran down to 2:00 minutes. Then SJ Madison scored for the Sea Hawks, giving them the last and leading score of the night, 78-72. 

Dante Williams, a passionate parent supporting the Centaurs spent most of the time yelling and cheering. He yelled at the referees every time he believed they were being unfair as he sat in the first row to watch his son, shooting guard Raymar Williams. When the Sea Hawks would be getting ready to make a free throw, you can guarantee Mr. Williams was the one yelling “MISS IT” at the players. 

“I love basketball. It’s all about energy,” he said. “This ain’t tennis. If you want to be quiet, go watch tennis.”

He continued, saying, “It’s all about energy. I gotta give one thousand percent as a fan, they gotta give a million percent as a player.” Even with the Centaur’s loss, Williams was glad he went to support the boys.  

The Centaurs have seven more games until they play the Sea Hawks again on Tuesday, January 23.

Photo by the author