DIVISION I-A BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : Mater Dei’s Offense Finally Clicks, Beats Arroyo

Mater Dei advanced to the third round of the Southern Section Division I-A boys’ basketball playoffs with a 67-53 victory over Arroyo on Tuesday night at Arroyo High School.

The Monarchs (24-4) used a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter to pull away from the Knights (19-8). The Monarchs will face Los Alamitos in the quarterfinals Friday.

Mater Dei, leading, 15-14, early in the second quarter, put on a full-court press to take its biggest lead of the first half, 21-14, with 5 minutes 29 seconds remaining.

The Monarchs’ full-court press allowed a cold-shooting team to stay in the game until their offense kicked in.

The Monarch’s shot 34% in the first half, hitting 11 of 32 field goal attempts, and trailed, 27-26. Arroyo shot 54% (12-20) over the same stretch.

The score was tied, 44-44, at the end of the third quarter when Mater Dei’s offense finally clicked.

Over the final eight minutes, Mater Dei outscored Arroyo, 23-9, with senior Matt Manwarren (6 points) and Jason Janeski (9 points) keying the charge. Manwarren helped change the momentum. His hook with 4:45 remaining and blocked shot on Arroyo’s next possession, put Mater Dei in front, 53-50.

Janeski finished with 19 points and J.J. Ballesteros had 18.