Girls’ basketball: How will the Monarchs handle their first loss of the season?

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Before Mater Dei’s 47-43 loss to Brea Olinda on Monday, the Monarchs were the top-rated team in the nation according to multiple prominent rankings.

‘This is where you find out if you’re maturing,’ said Mater Dei coach Kevin Kiernan after the team’s first loss of the season. ‘A mature group will figure out why they lost.’

In the last two years, the Monarchs (17-1) have won 49 of 51 games and a CIF Division IIA championship.

‘We haven’t had much adversity,’ Kiernan said. ‘We will see where these young kids are in their development.’

-- Melissa Rohlin