Mater Dei outlasts Mitty in Division II state title game, 65-53

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Turns out, San Jose Mitty needed all the help it could get, but it still wasn’t enough.

Mater Dei finally started getting some calls in the last couple minutes and the Monarchs were good enough at the free-throw line to hold off Mitty, 65-53, in the Division II boys’ state championship at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

After Mitty blew a chance to take its first lead when Brandon Scott left two free throws short, Andy Brown (pictured from last year’s title game) hit a short jumper for a 50-47 Mater Dei advantage with just under three minutes remaining. Brown then stole the ball in the backcourt and Mitty’s Collin Chiverton committed his fifth foul while trying to get it back.

Brown stepped to the line and sank both free throws for a five-point lead with 2:10 left.

Drew Gordon banked in a shot on the other end to cut the deficit to three with two minutes left. Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight then called a timeout and Mitty fouled Gary Franklin on the subsequent dribble. The sophomore guard made both free throws, and Blake Arnet followed with a steal and was fouled on the breakaway (What? Three straight fouls against Mitty?). Arnet made one of two to push the lead to 54-49 lead with 1:20 left.

Mitty kept throwing up bricks on the other end and Mater Dei kept rebounding and going to the free-throw line.

The Yule Brynner-lookalike ref had one more bad call in him, however. Angelo Caloiaro jumped into the chest of Arnet on a desperation jumper and was awarded free throws, but he also missed them both, allowing him to join Scott in misery.

John Swift, the great-great grandson of John Wayne, then checked in with 18.5 seconds remaining, so it became official: Mater Dei is a back-to-back winner over Mitty for the state Division II title.

-- Dan Arritt

-- Image by Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times