BOYS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Janeski’s Last-Second Shot Gives Mater Dei the Victory

After losing four games by a total of five points this season, the Mater Dei High School boys’ basketball team finally beat the buzzer to claim a last-second victory.

Forward Jason Janeski made a 15-foot shot with one second remaining to give the Monarchs a 49-48 victory over Capistrano Valley Saturday night at Saddleback College in a nonleague game between the county’s two best teams.

Mater Dei (12-4) watched a nine-point lead disappear in the final five minutes, something that has become routine for a young and inexperienced team.

Point guard David Sedgwick led Capistrano Valley’s comeback, scoring four consecutive baskets and two free throws in the last quarter, including a layup with 11 seconds remaining that gave the Cougars (13-3) a 48-47 lead.

But instead of folding, Mater Dei called a timeout with eight seconds left and set up Janeski’s game-winning shot, with the help of some questionable officiating.

Kamran Sufi, Mater Dei’s diminutive point guard, dribbled the ball to midcourt after the timeout and called another timeout as he slid five feet across the court.

The game officials hesitated, then called a timeout for Mater Dei with four seconds remaining rather than calling traveling on Sufi. When play resumed, the inbound pass went to Janeski, who was supposed to lob the ball inside to teammate Reggie Geary.

“I kept dribbling, and no one was defending me, so I went as far as I could and took the shot,” Janeski said. “I knew the shot was straight.”

Mark Thornton, Capistrano Valley coach, made a case for a traveling call on Sufi.

“The refs took away a good game from our kids,” Thornton said. “The kid slides halfway across the floor, and I don’t care if the floor is slippery or what, that’s traveling.”

Thornton was also angry with a technical foul called against Tom Airey when the officials became confused over who should go to the free-throw line after a Mater Dei foul. The result was a lost free throw and two free throws and possession for Mater Dei.

“That was the referees’ mistake, and we paid the price,” Thornton said.