SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONALS : Mater Dei Loses in the Heat of the Fresno Night, 64-63

This time, there were to be no towel-waving heroics by guard Mark Ramstack, nor was Coach Gary McKnight to be carried off the court by a jubilant bunch of players as he was after the Southern Section’s 5-A title game.

On this night, McKnight and Ramstack were assessed technical fouls in the third quarter when Mater Dei High School fell behind by 18 points, and the Monarchs ultimately lost, 64-63, to Fresno Hoover in the opening round of the Southern California Regional Division I boys’ basketball playoffs Tuesday in front of 3,500 at Fresno City College.

Hoover (27-1) held off a late charge by Mater Dei in the fourth quarter to win its 18th consecutive game and moved into the semifinals on Thursday night against top-seeded Crenshaw (27-0). Forward Ryan Wetnight made two free throws with 13 seconds remaining to give the Patriots a four-point lead.

Hoover got some big calls from the Fresno-area officials late in the game. For instance, Mater Dei forward Kevin Rembert was cited for three seconds in the key with 19 seconds remaining and the Monarchs trailing, 61-59.

And guard Dylan Rigdon was cited for a lane violation for waving his arms when Wetnight missed his first free-throw attempt with 13 seconds remaining. Wetnight was given a second chance, made both ends of a one-and-one opportunity and the celebration began in Fresno.

With 4:17 remaining in the third quarter and his team trailing, 39-29, McKnight called a timeout and went into a tirade against officials, who had called Mater Dei for six fouls and Hoover for none. He was cited for a technical foul, giving Hoover two free throws and possession. Guard Marcus Allen made one of two free throws, and then Wetnight hit a baseline jumper for a 42-29 lead.

Ramstack got his technical 10 seconds later for arguing after he was called for an illegal screen. Allen managed to make only one free throw again, but Hoover had a 43-29 lead and Mater Dei had lost its composure.

The Monarchs, who finished the season at 21-8, regrouped and were poised for a comeback in the fourth quarter. Ramstack got the rally going with two straight three-pointers, and Hoover obliged by making only 7 of 16 free-throw attempts down the stretch.

But the two lane violations ultimately cost Mater Dei any chance of winning the game as an estimated 1,200 partisan fans who had filled 20 rooter buses prepared for the five-hour drive home.

“I’m not going to say anything about the officials because I’ll look like a spoiled sport,” McKnight said.

“I have no complaints about this team. It was a great year. Sooner or later, you’re going to get beat.

“I’m not going to get on the bus and ride home 300 miles down in the dumps. Saturday night (the 5-A championship game) was one of the highlights of my life.

“We lost our heads in the third quarter and got too far behind.”

Ramstack, who averaged 24 points in his last two games, thought the Monarchs would rally for a victory in the fourth quarter.

“Maybe our luck ran out,” he said. “We had everything going against us tonight except our fans.”

Pat Riddlesprigger, a 6-foot 5-inch forward who has signed with Fresno State, led Hoover with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Kevin Rembert had 22 points for Mater Dei, and Ramstack added 21.