PREP BASKETBALL PLAYOFF ROUNDUP : El Modena Hits 65-Footer, but It Doesn’t Beat Buzzer

El Modena sophomore Ernie Wilson hit a 65-foot shot at the buzzer, but the officials ruled Wilson had released the ball after time expired, allowing host Redondo Union to advance in the Division II-A playoffs Tuesday night with a 65-63 victory.

The lead changed hands nine times in the fourth quarter before El Modena’s Jon Leedom made two free throws with 13 seconds left to tie the score at 63.

With the Redondo Union coaching staff screaming for a timeout, Jason Correa drove the left baseline and made a layup to give the Sea Hawks a 65-63 lead with two seconds left.

After an errant inbounds pass, Wilson picked up the ball between the opponents’ top of the key and the half-court circle. He wheeled around and threw the ball in.

El Modena, the first-place team in the Century League, began celebrating its apparent 66-65 victory, but the officials ruled Wilson shot the ball a moment too late.

“I didn’t know if the shot was in time,” said El Modena Coach Tim Tivenan, whose team finished the season at 17-8. “I just wanted to make sure the officials made the right call and they say they did.”

Redondo (14-12), the fourth-place finisher in the Ocean League, will play Artesia, a 69-33 winner over Los Altos, Friday night.