Boys’ Roundup : Mater Dei Manages to Hold Off Pius X

Earlier this week, Pius X High School basketball Coach Mike Murphy predicted that if any team in the Angelus League was capable of defeating Mater Dei and ending the Monarchs’ four-year unbeaten streak in the league, it would be the Swordsmen. Murphy was almost right.

The smaller Swordsmen gave Mater Dei all it could handle before falling, 66-61, Friday night in Downey. It was Mater Dei’s 47th straight victory over the past two seasons and improved its league mark to 3-0 and season record to 18-0.

Center LeRon Ellis paced the Monarchs with 28 points and 7 rebounds. The 6-foot 10-inch junior made 11 of 17 field-goal attempts. Junior Anthony Jenkins led Pius X with 19 points.

Mater Dei opened a 24-8 lead after one quarter of play, but Pius X outscored the Monarchs, 53-42, in the final three quarters. Pius X is 1-2 in league.

MATER DEI (66)--Mounce 10, Dwyer 3, Peabody 2, Ellis 28, Thomas 15, Rembert 4, Quigley 2, Rocco 2.

PIUS X (61)--Gibson 8, Jenkins 19, Ewing 6, Livingston 6, Finao 14, Lee 2, Smith 4, Hollins 2.