Mater Dei Still No. 1 in Basketball Poll

Mater Dei High School received a scare from Pius X last week, but held on for a 66-61 victory and remained the top-ranked team in the Orange County Sportswriters’ Assn. prep basketball poll.

The Monarchs (18-0) have 47 straight victories during the past two seasons. They will meet rival Servite on Friday night in its next game. Foothill makes its first appearance in the poll at No. 7 this week.

In the featured game of the week, eighth-ranked Katella plays host to fourth-ranked El Dorado on Friday night in the Knights’ gym. Tipoff is at 7:30.

The writers’ poll:

Pos. School (League) Record 1. Mater Dei (Angelus) 18-0

2. Capistrano Valley (South Coast) 17-2

3. Ocean View (Sunset) 13-4

4. El Dorado (Empire) 13-3

5. Brea-Olinda (Orange) 13-4

6. Corona del Mar (Sea View) 14-3

7. Foothill (Century) 14-3

8. Katella (Empire) 13-3

9. Mission Viejo (South Coast) 13-5

10. Woodbridge (Sea View) 14-4

Others Receiving Votes: Santa Ana and Los Alamitos.