Thompson Leads Redondo to First Title Since 1943

Dijon Thompson scored 25 points as second-seeded Redondo Union won its first Southern Section boys’ basketball title since 1943 with a 60-54 victory over top-seeded Lakewood Mayfair in the II-A championship game Saturday at the Arrowhead Pond.

Wendal White had 10 points and 10 rebounds for Redondo (25-5), which took a 16-5 lead. But Mayfair (25-3) stayed in the game behind Stanford-bound Josh Childress, who scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half.

Mayfair used a 12-0 run to take a 51-44 lead with with 3:50 left. Thompson, who will attend UCLA, then scored five points to ignite the Sea Hawks’ comeback and tie the score, 52-52, with 1:30 left.

Mayfair only scored two more points and was unable to make its free throws in the waning moments.