SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ BASKETBALL : Mater Dei Tops North for I-A Title, 65-55

Santa Ana Mater Dei High, The Times’ top-ranked team, broke open a close game against Riverside North in the second quarter and went on to a 65-55 victory in the Southern Section Division I-A championship Saturday night at the Sports Arena.

The Monarchs (31-1) outscored North, 23-15, in the second quarter to take a 33-25 halftime lead. The Huskies (27-3) made a brief comeback in the third quarter but could get no closer than three points.

Mater Dei won its seventh Southern Section championship since 1983, assuring the Monarchs a berth in this week’s Southern Regional of the State Division I playoffs.

Forward Marmet Williams and Arizona-bound guard Reggie Geary led Mater Dei with 18 points each. North forward Quincy Brewer, headed to Arizona State, led all scorers with 26 points.

Inglewood Morningside 95, Cosa Mesa Estancia 85--After trailing by 11 points midway through the fourth quarter, Morningside rallied in overtime for the III-AA title at the Sports Arena.

Morningside needed a three-point basket by Dominic Ellison with 10 seconds remaining in regulation to complete its comeback. In overtime, the Monarchs outscored Estancia, 14-4, to win their third Southern Section title since 1974.

Stais Boseman led Morningside (21-6) with 27 points and eight rebounds. Ellison scored 21.

Estancia (23-7) was led by Jim Faulkner, who scored a team-high 24 points before fouling out in overtime.

Mission Viejo Trabuco Hills 52, La Palma Kennedy 50--Brett Paulos scored 14 points and reserve guard Eric Manning made a key defensive play to lead the Mustangs to the II-A title.

With the Mustangs ahead, 52-50, Manning broke up a pass and threw the ball the length of the court to help run out the final seconds of the game.

La Canada 62, San Dimas 53--La Canada got all its points from its starters to win its first title in the III-A championship at the Sports Arena.

Senior guard Ryan Asplund led the Spartans (26-2) with 16 points. Sophomore guard Eric Sanchez added 15. Coach Tom Hofman didn’t use a substitute until the final seconds.