Mater Dei Is Top-Seeded for Orange Holiday Event

Mater Dei High School, winner of five consecutive tournament titles from 1982 through 1986, is the top-seeded team in the Orange Holiday boys’ basketball tournament beginning Tuesday in the Hutton Sports Center.

Mater Dei did not enter the tournament last year. Mater Dei has never lost in the Orange tournament under Coach Gary McKnight and has won 15 tournament titles in 6 seasons under McKnight.

The 16-team tournament, traditionally considered the best in the county, features 5 of the county’s top 10 teams. Besides top-ranked Mater Dei (10-1), other county powers entered include Fountain Valley (8-0), Saddleback (9-1), Capistrano Valley (7-3) and Kennedy (6-3).

Capistrano Valley is the defending champion. The Cougars defeated Saddleback, 58-52, in the title game last year. The championship game is scheduled for 8:50 p.m. Friday.

The first-round pairings:

University vs. Marina at 9:30 a.m.; LB Wilson vs. Fountain Valley at 11:10 a.m.; Dominguez vs. Seattle Kennedy at 12:50 p.m.; Foothill vs. Kennedy at 2:20 p.m.; Miraleste vs. Saddleback at 3:50 p.m.; El Toro vs. Orange at 5:30 p.m.; Capistrano Valley vs. Orange Lutheran at 7:10 p.m.; Fullerton vs. Mater Dei at 8:50 p.m.

Undefeated Santa Clara High of Oxnard, featuring a front line that averages 6-feet 6-inches, is the top-seeded team in the Coast Christmas Classic beginning today at Estancia.

Bubba Burrage, Shon Tarver and John McGill have led Santa Clara to a 9-0 record and the championship of the Simi Valley tournament. Irvine, 9-1, is seeded second and has won the 32-team Irvine World News tournament.

The first-round pairings:

Today: Glendale Hoover vs. Irvine at 3:40 p.m.; Huntington Beach vs. Laguna Beach at 5:20 p.m.; Sonora vs. Estancia at 7 p.m.; Laguna Hills vs. Los Alamitos at 8:40 p.m.

Tuesday: Santa Clara vs. Cypress at 3:40 p.m.; Edison vs. Mission Viejo at 5:20 p.m.; LB Jordan vs. Costa Mesa at 7 p.m.; Dana Hills vs. Corona del Mar at 8:40 p.m.