Orange County Prep Basketball : Mater Dei Survives Scare by Capo Valley

Mater Dei’s reputation as a poor free throw shooting team almost cost the Monarchs a basketball game Saturday night.

While the rest of his team missed seven of eight free throws in the final period, Mike Hopkins sank all six of his attempts in the final three minutes to lift the Monarchs to a 50-42 victory over Capistrano Valley at Chapman College.

Hopkins, a 6-foot 4-inch junior guard, finished with 10 points and led Mater Dei (14-1) with 9 rebounds.

Capistrano Valley trailed by three, 43-40, with 18 seconds remaining when Cougar Coach Mark Thornton was assessed a technical foul. Hopkins hit both shots and, after being fouled three seconds later, sank another pair to put the game out of reach.

LeRon Ellis, Mater Dei’s 6-10 senior center, had 19 points as the Monarchs beat Capistrano Valley for the second time in two weeks. Todd Marinovich led the Cougars with 14 points, 10 of those coming in the first half.

Mater Dei played a man-to-man defense in the first half but switched to a 1-3-1 zone after intermission in an attempt to stop Marinovich. It worked as the Cougars’ 6-4 forward was held scoreless in the third period and managed just one field goal in the fourth.

Jim Waikle, Capistrano Valley’s 7-foot junior center, led all rebounders with 10.

In other games:

Mission Viejo 76, Woodbridge 70--Jeff Herdman scored 23 points and Jeff Hall had 16 as the Diablos defeated Woodbridge (10-5) in Irvine.

The Diablos converted 22 of 34 free throws. Woodbridge shot only 21 free throws.

Adam Keefe led Woodbridge with 21 points and Vince Bryan had 19.

Western 73, Mayfair 69--Will Jefferson scored 29 points and Chuck Powell added 15 as the Pioneers defeated Mayfair at Western.

In girls’ action:

Edison 49, El Toro 47--Denise Ogborn stole an inbounds pass with 10 seconds left and passed the ball to Michele Hennessy, who scored a basket with four seconds remaining to give the Chargers the victory at El Toro.

Kristi Smith scored 19 points to lead Edison (16-1). Rae Andrews scored 16 for El Toro (10-6).

Laguna Beach 50, Villa Park 37--Felicia Chalmers scored 22 points to lead the Artists (8-3) to the victory at Villa Park. Susie Barnett scored 13 points for the Spartans.