BOYS’ BASKETBALL / LAS VEGAS HOLIDAY CLASSIC : Mater Dei Streak Ends at the Buzzer

Clay McKnight got the ball, put it up and believed.

“I think all my shots are going in,” McKnight said.

For one of the few times, it didn’t.

McKnight’s three-point field goal attempt hit the lip of the rim, then bounced off. In that moment Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy had survived, 55-53, to win the Reebok Holiday Prep Classic on Thursday at Las Vegas Durango High School.

“We knew if we could keep McKnight from shooting threes, we’d win,” Oak Hill Coach Steve Smith said. “We didn’t think their other players could beat us.”

He was right, but just barely.

The Monarchs (11-1) appeared to be fading, trailing 52-44, with 4 minutes 50 seconds left, then rallied. They closed to within one, 54-53, with 1:31 left and had opportunities.

Schea Cotton had a chance to put Mater Dei ahead as he went one on one with Ron Mercer, one of the top seniors in the nation. Cotton worked him for nearly 30 seconds, then lost the ball with 17 seconds left.

Oak Hill center Venson Hamilton made one of two free throws with 13 seconds left. Cotton grabbed his miss to set up the final play.

“We were going to break Schea to the top of the key and if he got double-teamed, we were going to go for the win,” Coach Gary McKnight said.

It played out that way. Kevin Augustine dribbled left, then right, as McKnight cleared with two Warrior players running toward him. He had made three three-pointers in the game and a tournament-record 27 in six games.

This time, though, it was short.

“I don’t know if it’s because I’m his father or coach, but I’m proud of Clay,” Gary McKnight said. “If we had to do it all over again, I’d do it the same.”

The loss ended the Monarchs’ 75-game regular-season winning streak. They last lost in the Above the Rim final on New Year’s Eve, 1991. Mater Dei was routed, 69-50, by Oak Hill that night.

This time, the Monarchs were able to play with the Warriors.

Mater Dei had the lead the entire first half, led by Cotton, a 6-5 sophomore, and Shaun Jackson.

Cotton scored 14 in the first half while being hawked by Mercer. He had two shots blocked early, but gained confidence and finished with 26 points.

Jackson scored nine in the first half, mostly on drives past Hamilton.

Cotton finished the half by grabbing a rebound and dribbling the length of the court for a layup at the buzzer, giving Mater Dei a 31-26 lead.

Mercer kept the Warriors (14-1) close. Mater Dei started 6-1 Mike Waugh on Mercer and ran several defenders at him all night. Mercer still had 20 points, 16 in the first half, and sank four three-pointers.

But it was Melvin Whitaker and Hamilton who did the dirty work.

Whitaker finished with 14 points and 17 rebounds, eight offensive. Hamilton had seven points and 11 rebounds, nine offensive. They dominated the inside during a second half.

Hamilton played a one-man zone the second half, using his 6-10 body to clog the middle. That left Waugh free, but he didn’t get off a shot.

“We left the kid open to take shots you normally take,” Smith said.

Hamilton’s presence ended Jackson’s drives through the lane. He made only one of eight shots in the second half.

Sammy Smith’s layup gave the Warriors their first lead, 33-31, two minutes into the second half. Whitaker then scored all eight of his second-half points during an eight-minute stretch. His tip-in capped an 11-4 run that gave the Warriors a 52-44 lead.

“I thought we hit a wall during that stretch,” McKnight said. “We looked tired.”

This was the Monarchs’ 10-games-in-10-days spree, which started with the Tournament of Champions last week. Mater Dei won nine of those games, including a 87-60 victory over Washington (D.C). Dunbar in Thursday’s semifinal.

Cotton scored 23 points and McKnight 17, 15 on three-pointers, against Dunbar. But it was Jackson who who made the Crimson Tide cry uncle. Dunbar had rallied from a 14-point deficit against Las Vegas Durango in the quarterfinals, but Jackson ended any of those thoughts. He was knocked to the ground to start the second half, then scored the Monarchs’ first nine points to stretch a 41-31 halftime lead to 50-31.

“I thought we had to work to hard in that game,” Gary McKnight said. “It affected us.”