SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : 5-A : Barons Are Overpowered by Mater Dei : Ellis Scores 26 in 64-42 Win Over Fountain Valley

Winning had become too routine for Mater Dei High School’s basketball team, which went into the Southern Section 5-A playoffs after breezing to the Angelus League title--and it was beginning to show.

But the Monarchs showed Fountain Valley Friday night that all they needed was a little incentive to bring out their overpowering talent.

Paced by 26 points from 6-foot 11-inch center LeRon Ellis, Mater Dei easily defeated the Barons at Rancho Santiago College, 64-42.

“It was getting monotonous. We weren’t getting up for our games,” said Ellis, who had shot 27% (3 of 11) in a sluggish 41-39 Angelus League finale against Servite last Friday.

“But it’s a whole new deal playing in CIF against teams we’ve never played before. Our intensity was real high.”

After a 15-2 run in the last half of the first quarter, the game was no contest. Mater Dei continually frustrated Fountain Valley by getting the ball inside to Ellis, who scored 10 of his points on powerful dunks, making 11 of 16 shots.

“They got the ball into Ellis real well,” said Dave Brown, Fountain Valley coach. “I just think Mater Dei is 20 points better than us.”

And they proved it without starting forward Kevin Rembert, the Monarchs’ second-leading scorer, who is suffering from strained knee ligaments. Rembert is expected to play in Friday’s quarterfinal against St. Anthony, which beat Long Beach Wilson, 87-74, Friday night.

“Without (Rembert) in there they went to Ellis more, which is probably good,” Brown said.

Gary McKnight, Mater Dei coach, said he was impressed with the Monarchs’ intensity.

“This is the level we have to play at the rest of the tournament,” said McKnight, who has not lost to an Orange County school in his five years at Mater Dei.

Fountain Valley was led by Rob Briggs, who scored 14 points. John Boyle added 12 for Mater Dei.