Mater Dei’s drive to Sacramento lays waste to Fresno Edison

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The Santa Ana Mater Dei boys’ basketball team was watching tape of Bakersfield Centennial, its first-round opponent in the Southern California Regional Division II playoffs. The Monarchs were impressed, but it wasn’t Centennial that stole their attention, it was the opposition, Fresno Edison.

‘’Our guys were like, `Whoa, who are these guys?’ ‘’ Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight said.

Mater Dei earned its chance to play the Tigers in the regional final Saturday afternoon at the Sports Arena, and the Monarchs learned up close just how good Edison was, and how much better they are.

Andy Brown and David Wear scored 21 points each and Mater Dei pulled away in the fourth quarter to win, 75-59, and advance to the state championships for the sixth time in the last eight years.

The difference between this team and those from the last four years, McKnight said, is the Monarchs don’t have to whet Taylor King’s appetite for long-range jumpers. Mater Dei only has a six-man rotation, but all six can score at anytime. And if they don’t, no problem.

‘I’ve never seen them pouting after a game,’’ McKnight said.

I’m sure he had to watch King pout every time he didn’t put up 25 shots.

-- Dan Arritt