Angelus League Basketball : Intense Mater Dei Outscrambles Bishop Amat, 82-55

If anything was evident in the Mater Dei-Bishop Amat boys’ basketball game Friday night, it was this: Mater Dei wasn’t going to let go of any opportunity--not even with a cushy lead.

It was the Monarchs’ intensity that gave Mater Dei an 82-55 victory over Bishop Amat in an Angelus League opener at Mater Dei.

For Mater Dei (16-2), the victory gives the school a bit of retribution. Last season, Bishop Amat defeated the Monarchs in both Angelus League meetings. The first ended Mater Dei’s 50-game league winning streak; the second ended Mater Dei’s 5-year reign as the Angelus League champion.

Perhaps that was the fuel that fired Mater Dei Friday night. Witness this hyper-intense scramble--with a 22-point lead no less--late in the third quarter:

Leading, 55-33, and pressuring the Lancers in their own corner, Mater Dei forced a turnover. The ball skidded away, Monarchs dived and sprawled all over the court, fighting for the ball as if it were a winning Lotto ticket. Jason Quinn of Mater Dei finally came up with it and hurled the ball full court to David Boyle, who sank a 15-footer.

“After the 2 losses (last season), I hope we’d be ready to play,” said Gary McKnight, Mater Dei coach.

The Monarchs proved to be ready from the start as they jumped out to a 10-1 lead in the first quarter. They went on a 10-1 run to open the second quarter as well, and led at halftime, 37-22.

With defensive pressure throughout the game, Mater Dei forced 25 turnovers and kept Bishop Amat off its game. The Lancers shot only 33% from the field while Mater Dei shot 63%.

Bishop Amat’s Jason Green, who came into the game averaging 24 points per game, was held to 17.

David Boyle, a junior guard, led the Monarchs with 23 points, helping to relieve the absence of Dylan Rigdon, who sprained his back last week in the semifinals of the Orange tournament. Rigdon played sparingly in the first quarter and did not score.

Also scoring in double figures for Mater Dei were Mike Morris, who scored 13 points despite having the flu; junior Andy Karich with 12, and Dan O’Neil with 10. The Monarchs played 17 players.

Pablo Patino led Bishop Amat (11-5, 0-1) with 20 points.

Servite 42, Bishop Montgomery 41--Steve Marusich had 21 points and 14 rebounds to lead Servite (10-5, 1-0) at Bishop Montgomery.

Chris Johnson scored 10 points for the Friars.