Late Free Throws Give Mater Dei the Edge

With nine seconds remaining in Friday night’s game, David Boyle made two free throws to give Mater Dei High School a three-point lead over Artesia.

Boyle’s free throws, in a one-and-one situation, gave Mater Dei a 62-59 lead, and after a last second three-point shot by Artesia missed, the Monarchs had a victory over Artesia (12-2) in a nonleague game pitting the top-ranked team in Orange County against the top-ranked team in Los Angeles County.

But as much as the shots, which came in front of a national cable television audience and more than 2,200 fans in the Cal State Long Beach gymnasium, meant to Mater Dei, it was the Monarchs’ defense against Artesia standout Ed O’Bannon that proved the difference.

O’Bannon, a 6-foot-9 forward who is one of the most recruited players in the West, scored 24 points to lead all scorers, but the Monarchs (17-1) rode him, hounded him and often kept him from shooting.

“You can’t stop Ed O’Bannon, (you) just try to contain him so he doesn’t take over the game,” Mater Dei assistant Dave Taylor said. “We tried to wear him out by running eight guys at him. . . . (The referees) let us play a physical game. We like that.”

O’Bannon made seven of 13 shots from the field, but only made two field goals in the second half. He went to the free throw line 12 times in the half, making 10, including two that tied the game, 58-58, with 1:24 remaining.

However, after Mater Dei guard Dan O’Neil made a jumpshot to put the Monarchs ahead, 60-58, O’Bannon was fouled and missed one of two free throws to set up Boyle’s shots.

Boyle, the Monarchs’ leading scorer who came off the bench because he has been sick, scored 18 points, tops for Mater Dei.

Mater Dei held O’Bannon to two free throws in the second quarter and outscored the Pioneers, 25-10, to take a 32-25 halftime lead. Artesia crept back, cutting the lead to 47-43 after the third quarter, forcing Mater Dei mistakes with its full-court press.

Down 53-45 with about five minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Pioneers went on an 11-2 run to take 56-55 lead with three minutes left.

But Andy Karich, who with Derek Stone guarded O’Bannon, made a three-point shot to give Mater Dei a 58-56 lead.