The Streak Is Over

Two years and 59 victories after its last loss, Mater Dei High School tasted defeat again Saturday night in the boys’ basketball championship game of the Division I Southern Regional.

Crenshaw made some clutch free throws in an overtime period to hand the Monarchs a 59-57 overtime loss in front of 12,390 fans in the Sports Arena. The victory advances the Cougars (24-2) into the State championship game next Saturday in the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum Arena.

Mater Dei, which finished the year at 30-1, never led in the game, but tied the Cougars three times in the second half. Center LeRon Ellis made two free throws with seven seconds left in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime at 54-54.