SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL REGIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT : Division I Boys’ Final : Top-Ranked Fairfax Stands in Way of Mater Dei’s Trip to State Final

The last time Mater Dei High School faced a team ranked No. 1 in the state, a girls’ basketball was mistakenly used for one half, Coach Gary McKnight received three technical fouls for an automatic ejection and the Monarchs ultimately lost in overtime.

Mater Dei lost to Crenshaw, 59-55, in the Southern California Division I boys’ regional final last season. Crenshaw went on to win the state title; Mater Dei ended 30-1.

Now, a year later, the Monarchs (29-1) play No. 1-ranked Fairfax (26-0) at 8 tonight in the Sports Arena with the winner advancing to the state final March 21 in the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum Arena.

“It’s a game that was meant to be,” McKnight said after the Monarchs’ 63-62 semifinal victory over Fresno Edison Thursday. “The players have been pointing to it all season.”

That’s what McKnight said before last season’s Crenshaw game. And in 1983, when Mater Dei played Crenshaw in the Southern California regional semifinals.

Mater Dei (145-7 in the past five years) has never won a regional final, and many are discounting its chances against Fairfax.

“It will take a perfect game to beat them,” McKnight said. “They have three Division I college players who can flat-out play. They remind me of the team I had with Tom Lewis, Matt Beeuwasert and Chris Jackson in 1984.”

The talented cast includes Sean Higgins, Chris Mills and J.D. Green. All average more than 20 points per game. Mills leads the offense with a 26.1 scoring and 11.6 rebounding average.

Fairfax was the preseason choice to win the state title, and the Lions have been ranked No. 1 all season by Cal-Hi Sports of Sacramento. Fairfax is ranked second nationally by USA Today.

“One of our goals this season was to reach the regional final,” said Harvey Kitani, Fairfax coach. “We worked hard to get to the City title game. This is the second step we set for ourselves.

“I’m just thankful for the opportunity to play a team like Mater Dei. I think defense has gotten us to the big game. We have to play solid defense and limit them to one shot.”

Mater Dei is led by All-American center LeRon Ellis, who averages 23.6 points and 8 rebounds.

But the Monarchs don’t have another starter who can match the Fairfax trio. McKnight is counting on junior forward Kevin Rembert, who is coming off his best game of the season with a 19-point performance against Edison.

The Monarchs will be playing without guards Mike Hopkins and John Stephens. Hopkins, who suffered a stress fracture three weeks ago, was declared out for the season earlier this week. Stephens, who sprained his ankle in Wednesday’s practice, will not be in uniform tonight.