BOYS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Mater Dei Withstands Whitlock to Beat Loara

Tes Whitlock, Loara High School’s talented guard, couldn’t do it alone Monday night against Mater Dei in the opening round of the 19th Tournament of Champions, but he sure made the game interesting.

Whitlock rallied Loara from a 22-point deficit in the third quarter to within four points in the fourth quarter at Ocean View High School before the Saxons fell, 74-61, to a Monarch team that has been struggling early in the season.

Mater Dei (3-2) outscored Loara, 23-2, in the second quarter with guard J.J. Ballesteros scoring nine points during the run to take a 34-20 lead at halftime.

But Whitlock made three three-point baskets in the third quarter and then opened with another in the fourth quarter to ignite Loara (2-2). Mater Dei reserve forward Matt Manwareen had nine points down the stretch to give Mater Dei the victory.

“Whitlock is a pretty darn good player,” Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight said. “He gets past half court and he’s ready to score.”

Whitlock came into the game averaging 37 points. He finished with 33 points and five assists. Manwareen led Mater Dei with 17 points and nine rebounds.

In other Tournament of Champions games:

Ocean View 73, Bosco Tech 54--Guard Ryan Martin made five of his seven three-point attempts, including three in a row in the first quarter, to lead Ocean View (4-1) with 21 points.

Lakewood 59, Servite 57--Guard Greg Williams stole an inbounds pass with 11 seconds remaining and scored three seconds later on a layup to give Lakewood (4-2) the victory. Servite (5-1) had beaten Lakewood, 79-73, in its season opener two weeks ago.