SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : I-A Boys : Mater Dei vs. Riverside North, 6:45 p.m.

SITE--L.A. Sports Arena

RECORDS--Mater Dei (30-1), Riverside North (27-2)

MATER DEI--The Monarchs are looking for their seventh section championship since 1983 and have the talent to get it. The starting five is frightening enough, but the guys who come off the bench are equally as good, allowing the Monarchs to wear down opponents. They outscored a tired Buena team, 26-9, in the third quarter Tuesday in the semifinals and won, 68-49. There is balance on offense, with eight players averaging between four and 14 points per game. While the Monarchs have plenty of offensive tools, but what they do best is defense. Opponents just don’t get many quality possessions. In the quarterfinals, Dominguez had four chances to break a 28-28 tie and got only one shot. The Monarchs pressure full court and force mistakes that are usually turned into easy baskets.

RIVERSIDE NORTH--There are many similarities to Mater Dei here. North has depth, maybe not as much as the Monarchs, but reserves Adrian Clairborne and Adam Kennedy would start for most teams. Quincy Brewer is a force at guard, where his size causes problems. Orie Benjamin and Desmen Granger give the Huskies a strong inside game, which will give the Monarchs problems. North beat the Monarchs in the Trabuco Hills tournament last season and reached the II-AA final, where they lost to Tustin. But to repeat that, the Huskies will have to play flawless. “Mater Dei just doesn’t have a weakness,” Coach Mike Bartee said. “You have to play a complete game against them. But success starts with defense.”

KEY TO THE GAME--Don’t blink. This will be a quick one. The team that can establish a half-court game will win.

CONSENSUS--Easy. Mater Dei.

Starting Lineups

MATER DEI

P Name Ht. Avg. F Ray Jackson 6-3 6.3 F Marmet Williams 6-5 12.4 C Terence Wilborn 6-6 8.9 G Reggie Geary 6-3 14.8 G Kamran Sufi 5-10 4.9

Coach: Gary McKnight

RIVERSIDE NORTH

P Name Ht. Avg. F Orie Benjamin 6-7 10.0 F Ed Gray 6-2 17.5 C Desmen Granger 6-5 12.0 G Jason Brown 6-0 9.0 G Quincy Brewer 6-4 17.5

Coach: Mike Bartee