SOUTH COAST LEAGUE : New Season, New League Championship for Mater Dei

They have won so many section titles one would think league titles wouldn’t mean much at Mater Dei High School.

But that’s not the case.

And Wednesday at UC Irvine’s Bren Center, looking squarely in the face of adversity--four regulars didn’t make the starting lineup--the Monarchs scored a 75-51 victory over Capistrano Valley. It gave Mater Dei the South Coast League title in its first year in the league. It is their 10th league title in 11 years under the guidance of Coach Gary McKnight.

“I’m excited for the kids because they’re able to continue the tradition,” McKnight said. “It’s big because this is our first year in the South Coast League and winning it means a lot.”

The Monarchs (25-1, 9-0 in league) are ranked No. 1 in the county and No. 2 in the state. Capistrano Valley (16-9, 7-2), ranked fifth in the county, is no slouch either. But on this night, they were another victim of Mater Dei, becoming a second-place footnote in the Monarch media guide.

Each team has a game remaining and neither will move from its current spot in the league standings.

“I was looking forward to coming into the South Coast League because Capo Valley is one of our biggest rivals,” said junior Miles Simon. “I’ve got a lot of friends on that team.”

And he didn’t treat them very well, scoring 31 points and nailing seven three-point baskets and two three-point plays.

Simon was the only regular in the lineup at tip-off. Tuesday was Senior Ditch Day, and Kamran Sufi, David Drakeford and Terence Wilborn took part.

Bad idea.

The other senior starter, Marmet Williams, missed school because of his father’s surgery. He didn’t start, but he wasn’t benched the entire first half like the others. Williams scored 16.

“I felt I had to take up more of a scoring role,” Simon said. And so he did.

He had three three-point baskets in the opening quarter as Mater Dei took a 17-15 first quarter lead.

After Clay McKnight’s three-pointer, the Monarchs held a 22-17 lead. Then they let down for a two-minute period. Corey Kost (10 points) scored off his steal, and Tedd Blinn made consecutive baskets, the second a tip-in after he began the transition on the other end of the court with a blocked shot.

Blinn gave Capistrano Valley a 23-22 lead with 4 minutes 48 seconds left in the half. It also marked the end of the Cougars’ offense. They made only one more field goal the next 8:11. By then, Mater Dei had opened up a 48-28 lead.

Simon, averaging 17 points per game, had 17 by halftime.

“That’s why he’s being recruited by Duke--and everyone else,” McKnight said. “It’s nice to have him as a junior.”

The three starters who ditched school combined for just eight points.

In other league games:

San Clemente 65, El Toro 43--Matt Ortiz had 22 points and four three-pointers for host San Clemente (5-17, 1-8). Jim Lewis had 14 points for El Toro (5-18, 1-8).

Dana Hills 63, Mission Viejo 41--Justin Hinsey scored 21 points and Bob Hefty had 12 for Dana Hills (12-11, 5-4). Jeff Carr scored 16 for Mission Viejo (11-12, 4-5).