TONIGHT’S SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PREP BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS : BOYS : Division I

Hanford vs. Mater Dei

SITE--Bren Center, 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS--Hanford (26-1), Mater Dei (32-1).

HANFORD--Tad Hoffman, a 6-6 junior who averages 15 points and seven rebounds, scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Hanford’s 70-66 overtime victory Long Beach Jordan in the first round. Fourth-seeded Hanford has won 19 consecutive games, including a 80-57 victory over Fresno Edison in the Central Section final. Riley Berrett, a 6-4 senior forward who averages 12 points, scored nine against Jordan. Mario Aguirre, a 6-3 guard, averages 14.8 points and had 16 Tuesday night.

MATER DEI--Mater Dei looked like a team with an agenda Tuesday in its 88-65 victory over Poway in the first round. “We had a really bad practice yesterday (Monday),” forward Marmet Williams said. “We talked before the game about getting fired up. We have a lot left to accomplish.” The bottom line of that agenda might be a rematch with Sacramento Jesuit in the State final. Jesuit beat the Monarchs, 76-68, in the Above The Rim Tournament in San Diego.

KEY TO THE GAME--Hanford likes to employ a zone press but against a superior ball-handling team such as Mater Dei that strategy could backfire. “They play a very up-tempo game,” Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight said. “They’ll press full-court. They have 10, 11 athletes and they play real hard. It will be a fast-breaking, entertaining game to watch.”

CONSENSUS--The Monarchs should be tested more than they were Tuesday, but they are on a mission and appear more focused with each game. Don’t expect Hanford to have enough to pull off the upset.