Serra High's boys' basketball team began its season with a 52-43 victory over Tesoro High from Rancho Santa Margarita last Monday in the Redondo Pacific Shores Tournament.
Last season, the Cavaliers won the CIF-Southern Section Division IVAA championship over La Verne: Lutheran, 69-59, but did lose a few key seniors from that squad.
Back, though, is 6-foot-11 center Emanual Ndumanya. Ndumanya, a Nigerian immigrant, can get inside well. He scored seven points in Serra's Redondo Pacific Shores opening game against Tesoro.
The Cavaliers also return a very good sophomore guard in Ellis Salahudia and 6-foot-7 junior forward Tavian Deuison.
Serra also has an all-CIF Southern Section transfer in junior Ajon Eferson from Pasadena High.
Six-foot-6 junior Christopher Sandfer is also a highly-regarded player.
Serra is also currently without three key players who are still with its football team that advanced to the CIF-Southern Section finals this Saturday at home against Mission League rival Chaminade from West Hills. Adoree Jackson, who is one of the Cavaliers' top football receivers and was last spring's California State long jump champion as a sophomore, is expected to be a key player.
The Cavaliers faced cross-town rival Gardena in their second Redondo Pacific Shores contest yesterday.
Next week, beginning on Monday, Serra will play in the Trevor Ariza Westchester Tip-Off Classic. After Christmas, the Cavaliers will play in a national tournament, the Gulf Shores Invitational, in Naples, Fla.
Serra will continue to play in the Del Rey League as it is expected to contend for the title with South Bay rival Torrance Bishop Montgomery. Defending Southern Section Division VAA champion Playa del Rey St. Bernard joins the league but, with the loss of premiere head coach Reggie Morris, Jr. who opted to take the head coaching job at Redondo (replacing fired head mentor Tom Maier), many of the top Viking players left the school and the program forcing them into rebuilding from scratch.
Against Tesoro, Ron Dawson sparked the Cavaliers with 118 points, followed by JeremyWright with 13.
Tesoro, led by Washington State University-bound returning all-CIF forward Tanner Lancoma, held an 11-10 lead in the first quarter, but the Cavaliers came back with 10 unanswered points to take the lead for good.
Leading 29-18 at halftime, Serra went on a 9-2 run for a 37-20 lead but Tesoro got within as close as six points.
The Cavaliers were able to make some clutch baskets and free throws to maintain their lead.
Lanacoma had a game-high 20 points for Tesoro.