BOYS’ BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Mater Dei Survives Rough Encounter to Gain Berth in Finals

Those who mistakenly believed they were attending a boys’ basketball game Wednesday night at Chapman University learned otherwise.

The featured semifinal of the Orange Holiday Classic, where top-ranked Mater Dei squared off with No. 10 Orange, looked more like a rumble.

Mater Dei emerged with a 69-30 victory and a trip to tonight’s championship against Long Beach Wilson, a 58-53 winner over Santa Clara.

Besides the victory, Mater Dei had several players take home nicks and cuts from the physical game.

“I appreciate physical play as much anyone,” said Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight. “You want to get your guys to come out and play hard. But when you have four who come out of the game bloody, you have to think maybe it has gone too far.”

Orange Coach Richard Bossenmeyer admitted that one of his players was unjustified by taking a jab at a Mater Dei player, but he defended his team for the most part.

“We have the utmost respect for Mater Dei,” he said. “When you’re in a game where the teams are allowed to play physical, the game is going to be physical but we weren’t out to get anyone.”

So the Monarchs (13-0) ended up getting Orange on the scoreboard instead.

Mater Dei jumped to an early 20-5 first-quarter lead that the Panthers challenged briefly by pulling to 26-15 early in the second quarter, but after that short run, it was all Monarchs.

By halftime, Mater Dei had upped its lead to 40-19 and continued to cruise. For the Monarchs, Shaun Jackson had a game-high 22 points and Schea Cotton contributed 18. Miles Simon scored 15 points and Clay McKnight added 10, including two three-pointers.

For Orange (10-2), Pat Harris scored eight points.