Mater Dei Gets Two Easy Victories

There will come a moment during the next few days that will require some serious, down-to-the-bone basketball from Mater Dei. The field ahead demands it.

But for now, the Monarchs are happy to have a day of play behind them. There was nothing from the first two rounds in the Reebok Holiday Prep Classic to make them break a sweat.

The Monarchs (8-0) cruised to a 82-37 victory over Vancouver (Canada) Tech on Monday in their second-round game. It came on the heels of a 92-39 pasting of Payson (Utah) in the opener Monday morning.

Whatever anxiety the Monarch coaching staff had going blind into a 50-team tournament was eased moments into the first half of both games.

“I hear Payson will hold the ball on you forever if you let them,” Coach Gary McKnight said before the first-round game.

Maybe so. But six minutes into the game it was 12-0 Mater Dei and holding the ball was no longer a Payson option.

The victory over Vancouver Tech was even more impressive.

“You just don’t know about your competition coming into these type of tournaments, especially the first day,” Monarch assistant coach Dave Taylor said. “You just have to play straight up until you learn something about your opponent.”

Mater Dei learned early on it was superior. The Monarchs needed little technique, just athletic prowess. Schea Cotton opened the game with a two-hand slam and the Monarchs were off.

It was 23-3 midway through the first half and 43-10 by halftime.

The Monarchs were able to showcase their skills with the Talismen as straight men.

Cotton had six dunks, none of the run-of-the-mill high school variety. He scored 23 points and finished off his night with a three-pointer.

Clay McKnight dropped one three-pointer after another. He made five against Vancouver Tech, giving him 12 through two games. All his field goals in the first two games were three-pointers.

Shaun Jackson scored 15 against Vancouver Tech, on drives, jump hooks and offensive rebounds. With no player taller than 6 feet 5, the Talismen couldn’t stop the 6-7 Jackson.

It all gave a playground atmosphere to the Monarchs’ game. It was a welcome relief, coming on the heels of an intense game Saturday against Tustin in the Tournament of Champions. The Monarchs labored through the first three weeks of the season, but got a chance to play Monday.

“We’ve had some real tough games lately,” Cotton said. “We needed to get out and run tonight. It was fun.”

That will change, starting today. The Monarchs play Federal Way (Wash.) Decatur--played late Monday--today in the third round. Decatur was 22-5 last season and returns three starters.

The competition will get stiffer as the Monarchs advance. The tournament includes Compton Dominguez, Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy and Washington D.C. Dunbar.

“I don’t really think it was good for us,” Clay McKnight said. “This talent was a step down from what we will be facing.”

Still . . .

“Oh yeah, it was fun tonight,” Clay McKnight said.