BOYS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Mater Dei Beats Long Beach Poly, 67-56

Mater Dei’s Coach Gary McKnight didn’t look like someone who had just endured an overtime basketball game.

McKnight watched tournament most valuable player Miles Simon score 25 points, including nine in the extra period, to lead the Monarchs (9-0) to a 67-56 overtime victory against Long Beach Poly in the final of the Tournament of Champions Friday at Ocean View High.

Shaun Jackson added 17 points and six rebounds for Mater Dei, which won its their third consecutive Tournament of Champions title.

But McKnight kept the victory in perspective.

“You want to play games like this to prepare for the playoffs,” McKnight said. “If you can pull out a win, fine, but if you get beat, you take it as a learning experience which is what I’m sure (Long Beach Poly Coach) Ron (Palmer) is doing.”

Long Beach Poly (5-2), which was ranked second in the state preseason poll, almost gave Mater Dei, ranked sixth, the lesson in losing.

The Jackrabbits’ James Brown, who scored 23 points on 10 of 16 shooting, tied the score, 49-49, and Chris Hardy’s basket from the post with 2:37 remaining in regulation gave Long Beach Poly a 51-49 lead.

But Clay McKnight, the coach’s son who finished with 11 points, made both ends of a one-and-one situation with 43 seconds remaining to tie the score, 51-51.

Simon had a chance to give the Monarchs the victory in regulation, but missed a short jumper in the lane and time expired before the Monarchs could get another shot.

But it was the last shot Simon would miss.

The 6-foot-4 senior, who has signed with Arizona, made a three-pointer 22 seconds into the overtime to give Mater Dei a 54-51 lead.

Freshman Kevin Augustine made the first of two free throws, and after he missed the second, Jackson rebounded the miss and scored to make it 57-51 with 2:17 remaining in overtime. Simon pushed the lead to 59-51, scoring on a drive with just over two minutes remaining.

The Monarchs iced the victory as Simon, Augustine and McKnight combined to make eight free throws in the final 53 seconds.

The Monarchs defense forced 22 turnovers and held Long Beach Poly to 14 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Zerrick Campbell had 16 points and seven rebounds for Long Beach Poly.