Tournament of Champions : Mounce Finds Shot, Paces Mater Dei Into Final

Describing Mater Dei High School’s John Mounce’s jump shot as unorthodox is actually being too kind.

The 6-foot 3-inch senior guard appears to be in pain each time he shoots. His back contorts and his body seems to be out of rhythm as he releases the ball. He looks like Amos McCoy in sneakers.

“I would describe his shot as a semi-set jump shot,” said Gary McKnight, Mater Dei coach.

But Mounce’s jumper looked picture-perfect in the box score Friday night. He made 7 of 9 attempts for 14 points to lead the Monarchs to a 57-52 win over Fairfax and into the Tournament of Champions title game for the third straight year.

Mounce had connected on only 1 of 7 field goal tries in two previous tournament games and his season-high was 10 points in a nonleague win over St. Bernard. He credited a practice session earlier in the day for his newfound success.

“The gym had been closed when we played our last two games in the tournament,” he said. “Today, I got to practice my shots. I felt more comfortable in tonight’s game.”

Mater Dei also has a way of making itself feel right at home in Cal Poly Pomona’s Kellogg Gymnasium. The Monarchs have won 13 straight games in tournament play.

Mater Dei, ranked sixth in the nation by USA Today, has also won 37 straight games over the past two seasons and will carry an 8-0 record into tonight’s title game against Santa Monica at 8:30.

Fairfax (6-1) committed four critical turnovers in the final 1:12 of play to falter badly down the stretch. The Lions had a 46-45 lead with 5:28 remaining after forward Chris Mills made a 12-foot jump shot, but it was Fairfax’ last lead.

Forward Stuart Thomas moved the Monarchs ahead for good, 47-46, with 4:54 remaining with a follow shot, and then Mounce’s 17-foot jump shot padded the lead to three points.

The teams traded baskets on their next two possessions when Fairfax self-destructed. Forward Dave Henderson was cited for charging, guard Mike Miller was called for traveling, Sean Higgins dribbled the ball on the in-line and forward Chris Mills threw the ball away on four consecutive possessions.

Meanwhile, Mater Dei built a 56-50 lead when center LeRon Ellis made a three-point play and then guard Tom Peabody sealed the victory with a free throw with 10 seconds left.

MATER DEI (57)--Dwyer 7, Thomas 13, Ellis 14, Mounce 14, Peabody 7, Rembert 2.

FAIRFAX (52)--Mills 14, Green 6, Higgins 20, Gerber 6, Miller 6.

Other tournament action:

Santa Monica 54, Capistrano Valley 53--Guard Carrick DeHart swished a 40-foot jump shot with two seconds remaining to advance the Vikings into the championship game.

Capistrano Valley had taken a 53-52 lead with only three seconds remaining when Shawn Reed scored on a baseline jump shot, and it appeared that the final would be an all-Orange County affair for the second straight year.

But Santa Monica (6-1) called a timeout and Capistrano Valley (7-1) failed to pressure the inbound pass. DeHart received the in-bound pass near midcourt, took two dribbles and then cast off with two seconds left.

SANTA MONICA (54)--Hunter 2, DeHart 18, Neal 9, Johnson 2, Kelvin Harris 10, Forsyth 8, Keith Harris 5.

CAPISTRANO VALLEY (53)--Trask 8, Reed 24, Waikle 6, Call 13, Montes 2.

Ocean View 55, St. Bernard 45-Ricky Butler and Tony Panzica combined for 20 points in the last quarter to lead the Seahawks into the fifth-place game against Inglewood at 5:30 today.

ST. BERNARD (45)--Dunn 2, Whitmore 15, Howling 9, Daniels 6, Hudson 5, Monge 3, Marrero 5.

OCEAN VIEW (55)--Panzica 15, Hazely 10, Butler 19, Vogtmann 2, Morris 5, Johnson 4.