Now, Only Servite Stands Between Mater Dei and Its Unbeaten, Regular Season

As undefeated seasons go, this one has been rather quiet for the Mater Dei High School basketball team.

By now, Monarch fans have come to expect big wins every game and about the only excitement going in is speculating on how many points Tom Lewis might score or which college scouts are there to watch him play.

Tonight’s Angelus League season-finale against Servite at Cypress College at 7:30 should provide Mater Dei with some added incentive, however.

A victory over their arch-rivals would insure the Monarchs the following:

--They would become the first Orange County team in nine years to finish the regular season undefeated. The last team to do it was Corona del Mar in 1976.

--It would be the third consecutive unbeaten Angelus League season for them.

--It would be an unprecedented sixth consecutive win over Servite.

--It would assure the No. 1 ranking in Orange County for Mater Dei, which has held that position since the beginning of the basketball season (Mater Dei enters tonight’s game with a 9-0 record in league and 24-0 overall).

And, as an added incentive for Lewis, the Monarch center is 18 points away from tying Wayne Carlander for fourth place on the all-time Southern Section career scoring list. With his 40 points against Bishop Amat on Wednesday, Lewis now has 2,297 points in his three-year career.

Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight has no plans to see if Lewis can break his own single-game scoring record of 53 points, set in the Valencia Tournament in 1983.

“If it’s a close game and Lewis happens to score 50, fine,” McKnight said. “But if we’re up by 20 points, I’m going to substitute as usual. If I wanted to see Lewis break his own record, I would’ve done it against Bishop Amat--he got his 40 points in only 21 minutes of play.

“What we’re doing now is working them hard in practice to get ready for the playoffs. There were times last year when I thought we took it easy and that cost us. There’s a lot on the line against Servite.”

There is plenty on the line for both teams. If Servite (5-4 and 9-13) loses and St. Paul beats Bishop Amat, the teams will tie for third place and because they have split their season series, a one-game playoff between the Friars and Swordsmen would be held Saturday night at Cypress College at 7:30 to determine the third entry into the Southern Section playoffs from the Angelus League.

In other action: Bishop Amat at St. Paul; Pius X at Bishop Montgomery.

CENTURY LEAGUE Santa Ana (11-2, 16-7) at El Modena (8-5, 14-8)--The Saints will be trying to keep pace with Orange for the league title while the Vanguards, who share third place with Foothill and Santa Ana Valley, are looking for the third playoff spot from the league. Center Roger Flores leads the Saints; Ryan Rycraw directs traffic for the Vanguards. Also: Canyon at Villa Park; Foothill at Tustin; Orange at Santa Ana Valley.

EMPIRE LEAGUE El Dorado (11-2, 20-3) at Kennedy (12-1 and 19-4)--The Golden Hawks can share first place with a win. The Irish will try to prove that they are the class of the Empire League this season and not El Dorado or Katella, both of which have gotten more publicity than the league-leaders. Also: Cypress at Esperanza; Pacifica at Katella; Loara at Los Alamitos.

FREEWAY LEAGUE Sunny Hills (3-6, 9-14) at Troy (5-4, 9-12)--The Warriors can assure themselves of the league’s third playoff berth with a win over Sunny Hills. Sonora, in fourth place with a 4-5 record, can make the playoffs only if it beats second-place Fullerton and Troy loses. Troy controls its own fate and with the game at home, the Warriors are all but assured of going to the playoffs. Also: Fullerton at Sonora; Buena Park at La Habra.

GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE Santiago (5-4, 12-9) at La Quinta (5-4, 9-11)--Rancho Alamitos (8-1) is in first place and Santiago, La Quinta and Garden Grove, all 5-4, are vying for the second and third playoff spots. Jim Perry’s La Quinta teams historically tend to play better as the season progresses, so Santiago will be hard pressed to beat the Aztecs at La Quinta. Also: Garden Grove at Los Amigos; Bolsa Grande at Rancho Alamitos.

ORANGE LEAGUE Brea-Olinda (9-0, 21-4) at Valencia (6-3, 14-8)--The Tigers assured themselves of the league’s third playoff spot with Wednesday’s 58-50 victory over Western, so this game is hardly do-or-die for them. Rather, Brea-Olinda, which has already clinched the league title, will try to complete an undefeated league season. Brea-Olinda, Valencia, and Savanna go on to the playoffs. Also: Savanna at Western; Anaheim at Magnolia.

SEA VIEW LEAGUE Woodbridge (2-11, 4-15) at Newport Harbor (12-1, 21-3)--The Sailors can unseat defending-champion Estancia (11-2) with a victory. Estancia was the league champion for the last two seasons, but unless Newport Harbor has a complete breakdown against Woodbridge, there is little chance that the Eagles will be able to share the title this time around. Also: Costa Mesa at Estancia; Laguna Beach at Corona del Mar; University at Saddleback.

SOUTH COAST LEAGUE El Toro (6-5, 11-12) vs. Capistrano Valley (7-4, 19-5) at Saddleback College--In what promises to be one of the better games in Orange County Friday, El Toro will try to take the league’s third playoff spot from the Cougars. A win by El Toro would give both teams 7-5 records, but that would mean that the Chargers would have beaten the Cougars twice and are entitled to go on to the playoffs. El Toro has come on strong of late while Capistrano Valley has struggled. It’s a tossup. Also: Irvine at Laguna Hills; Mission Viejo at San Clemente.

SUNSET LEAGUE Fountain Valley (7-2, 15-7) at Huntington Beach (4-5, 9-11)--The last time these two teams met, Fountain Valley center Brent Martin scored a school-record 39 points in an easy win. Also: Westminster at Ocean View; Edison at Marina.