Simon Leads Mater Dei Past Valley View

Miles Simon scored 21 points to lead Mater Dei to its 29th consecutive victory, a 70-44 triumph over Moreno Valley Valley View in the Southern Section Division I-A boys’ basketball quarterfinals Tuesday at UC Irvine.

Valley View kept the game close for most of the first half and tied the score, 22-22, before Mater Dei scored the final eight points of the quarter.

Baskets by Darren Hite, Schea Cotton and two by Simon gave the Monarchs a 30-22 lead at halftime.

The Eagles (17-9) made one last run at the Monarchs early in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 35-30 before the Mater Dei defense took over. Two steals by Simon during a 14-2 run gave Mater Dei a 48-32 lead late in the third quarter.

“They’ve played together for the past couple of years and were able to penetrate our defense in the first half,” Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight said. Valley View was 10 of 17 from the field in the first half.

Mater Dei held a 19-14 lead at the end of the first quarter after scoring the final four points.

Cotton scored 15, Clay McKnight scored 12 and Shaun Jackson 11 for the Monarchs, ranked second in the nation by USA Today.

Pat Englebrecht led the Eagles with 13.

The victory moves Mater Dei into the semifinals against Los Angeles Loyola Friday at a site to be announced.