Boys’ basketball: Former Monarch playing for state title

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Usually this works the other way around.

A player transfers to Mater Dei in search of basketball glory and ends up playing for Southern Section and state titles.

Mason Jones came to Ocean View from Mater Dei, and he’s pretty much found hoops heaven.

The senior guard who was a bit player for the Monarchs is his team’s leading scorer, and on Saturday afternoon he’ll help the Seahawks try to win their first state title in the Division III championship game against San Francisco Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Even though the 6-foot-4 Jones rebounds, plays solid defense and averages 12.5 points per game, Ocean View Coach Jim Harris said his greatest attribute might be his attitude.

‘Usually when someone changes schools they have what I might call ‘an agenda’ or they see themselves in relation to the stars only,’ Harris said. ‘He’s a great kid who was friendly with the worst player in the program and tries to help him.

‘There’s no ego about him but there is a confidence, and that’s rare.’

There’s a pedigree that accompanies that self-assurance.

Jones is the younger brother of former Mater Dei and Oregon State forward Marcel Jones. The younger Jones transferred from Mater Dei largely because the school’s tuition ‘was just too tough for the family,’ Harris said.

Tuition won’t be an issue when Jones reaches the next level. Harris said San Francisco offered Jones a scholarship following his 22-point performance last Saturday during Ocean View’s 79-63 victory over Harvard-Westlake in the Southern California Division III regional championship. Jones made eight of 12 shots, including four of seven from three-point range.

‘I’m thrilled he’s progressed like this,’ Harris said. ‘You never know how things are going to work out, but this has worked out great.’

--Ben Bolch