Servite’s Rubio Ends Mater Dei Dominance : Prep basketball: Free throws with four seconds left give Friars a 50-49 victory, their first over Monarchs since 1981-82.

Eddie Rubio was frustrated, as many of the Servite High School basketball players had been when they played against Mater Dei.

Rubio could only watch as Reggie Geary stole the ball from him, raced down court and dunked it to give the Monarchs a one-point lead over Servite with 32 seconds left.

“I said to myself, ‘Damn, there Reggie goes again,’ ” Rubio said. “But I knew we could come back. It was our turn.”

Rubio took his turn with four seconds left, hitting two free throws as fifth-ranked Servite beat top-ranked Mater Dei, 50-49, in an Angelus League opener Friday night at Cypress College.

The victory ended Servite’s 16-game losing streak to the Monarchs. Servite’s last victory over Mater Dei was a 61-59 victory in four overtimes in the 1981-82 season.

Mater Dei, 80-3 in league play the past eight years, nearly pushed the streak against Servite to 17.

After the Monarchs took a 49-48 lead with Geary’s dunk, Rubio drove down the lane and was fouled by J.J. Ballesteros with four seconds left.

Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight questioned the foul.

“I don’t know if the game should be decided by a referee,” McKnight said. “You just don’t call that.”

Rubio stepped to the line and calmly sank the first shot. He wasn’t sure about his second attempt as it spun around the rim before falling in.

“I saw it go up and I knew it had a chance,” he said. “Then it went down.”

Servite Coach Richard Smith said he wanted Rubio shooting the final free throws.

“He’s just a stud, man,” Smith said as he slapped Rubio on the back. “He’s just a stud.

Smith said he was surprised the Friars won the game at the free-throw line.

“Last year we thought (missing) free throws hurt us a lot,” he said. “It’s ironic that free throws were a factor in one of our biggest wins. This kind of feels like (winning the state Division III title in) Oakland last season.”

The game was the first time in county history that two defending state champions met. Mater Dei won the Division I title last season.

It also was the first time McKnight had lost to Servite since he began coaching the Monarchs in the 1982-83 season.

“How big is this win?” Smith asked. “Servite-Mater Dei is a big thing. To beat the No. 1 team in the county is a big thing. And being 1-0 in the Angelus League is a big thing.”

Servite improved to 11-4; Mater Dei is 10-4.

McKnight said the difference in the game was Servite’s ability to control the tempo.

The Friars’ half-court game, led by Rubio, Adam Anderson, Dan Coady and Matt Kenney, frustrated the Monarchs’ defense.

Servite hurt Mater Dei with its balance. Rubio had 13 points, Adam Anderson 11 and Matt Kenney eight. Jason Janeski had 16 points and Geary 14 for Mater Dei.

Kenney and Anderson each made three-pointers to open the second half as Servite pulled away from a 25-25 halftime score. The Friars made five of seven three-pointers while Mater Dei made one of six.

Servite’s defense also was a factor. The Friars held the Monarchs scoreless for three minutes late in the game. Mater Dei scored only four points in the final 4:40.

In another Angelus League game:

Loyola 85, Santa Margarita 72--Santa Margarita led, 36-28, with two minutes left in the first half but Loyola went on a 21-2 run to finish the half and never lost its lead. Dan Bathey scored 33 points for Santa Margarita (10-4, 0-1).

SWEET 17

Servite’s victory ended an 8-year, 16-game losing streak against Mater Dei:

1983 Mater Dei 60, Servite 55

Mater Dei 47, Servite 45

1984 Mater Dei 80, Servite 48

Mater Dei 71, Servite 47

1985

Mater Dei 86, Servite 51

Mater Dei 63, Servite 32

1986

Mater Dei 62, Servite 46

Mater Dei 64, Servite 44

1987

Mater Dei 73, Servite 68

Mater Dei 41, Servite 39

1988

Mater Dei 47, Servite 43

Mater Dei 63, Servite 48

1989

Mater Dei 79, Servite 56

Mater Dei 82, Servite 44

1990

Mater Dei 55, Servite 46

Mater Dei 50, Servite 36

1991

Servite 50, Mater Dei 49