Mater Dei clinging to one-point halftime lead over Chicago Farragut

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The Mater Dei boys’ basketball team will need to play a little better in the second half if it wants to remain unbeaten.

The Monarchs, ranked No. 1 in the Southland by The Times and No. 2 in the nation by USA Today, is clinging to a one-point lead over Chicago Farragut at the half, 25-24, of the final game of the evening of the Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei High.

Mater Dei scored the first seven points of the game, but then let its guard down and Farragut to cut the deficit to one after the opening quarter.

Mater Dei has David and Travis Wear, the 6-foot-10 junior twins who have committed to North Carolina, but Farragut has a talented big man in 6-10, 235-pound senior center Michael Dunigan.

Andy Brown, pictured, has six points to lead the Monarchs thus far, while Jamaal Trice has five and the Wears have four apiece.

Mater Dei shot 32.3% from the field in the first half, while Farragut shot 30.3%.

-- Dan Arritt

-- Image from Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times