BOYS’ BASKETBALL : SOUTH COAST LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mater Dei Uses Easy Victory to Get in Shape for Playoffs

There seemed more on Mater Dei’s mind Friday than just a South Coast League basketball championship.

The team that swooped in and beat Trabuco Hills was getting limber for the Southern Section playoffs. The Monarchs’ 88-53 victory at Trabuco Hills was a matter of loosening up for postseason play, which is a week away.

The victory wrapped up the league title, the Monarchs’ 13th in 14 seasons. It was their 47th consecutive league victory, seventh longest streak in section history. The numbers were nice, but this was a dry run for bigger things, a possible section and State title.

It was a chance for Schea Cotton to work out a few kinks after missing five games with a hamstring injury. He scored 30 points and had nine rebounds.

It was a chance for the Monarch defense to assume its postseason attack position. Mater Dei forced 21 turnovers, scoring baskets off 12.

And it was a chance for role players to refine their niche. Point guard Kevin Augustine had eight assists. Reserve forward Mark Pozsgai grabbed nine rebounds and banged inside. Forward Mike Waugh helped shut down Rob Warnick, the Mustangs’ leading scorer.

With all that, the Mustangs, ranked seventh in Orange County, had no chance. They had played a Cotton-less Mater Dei tough three weeks ago, but were run out of their own gym.

“It was a challenge to us to come here and beat them in their gym,” Coach Gary McKnight said. “They scored 65 points on us last time. We wanted to come here and play some defense.”

The Mustangs (14-10, 5-3), who feed off their perimeter game, shot 35%. It wasn’t entirely their fault. Mater Dei blocked nine shots, with three of the blocks coming from Shaun Jackson.

The defense keyed a 28-3 run that began midway through the first quarter and ended midway through the second quarter. It gave top-ranked Mater Dei (26-1, 8-0) a 38-14 lead. Things didn’t get much better.

The Mustangs’ Warnick, Jon Pailsey and Nick Punto combined for 18 points. They usually account for nearly 40 points.

With the defense in control, McKnight could tinker. Much of it involved Cotton. The Monarchs made a point to get him the ball as often as possible.

Cotton looked rusty at times, making 10 of 23 shots. At one point in the third quarter, he missed a dunk, grabbed the rebound and put up an air ball on a layup.

But moments later, he roared back with a two-handed dunk and was fouled. Cotton then celebrated with Monarch fans in the front row, slapping hands and strutting.

“To have Schea miss five games was tough at this point in the season,” McKnight said. “We need to get him into the stream of the offense.”

Cotton seemed to fit nicely back into an offense that has revolved around Jackson and Clay McKnight the last three weeks. Jackson had 22 points and McKnight 19.

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In other South Coast League games:

Mission Viejo 79, Dana Hills 59--Tyler Kalklosch scored 25 and Austin Moherman added 23 for Mission Viejo (14-8, 5-3).

Capistrano Valley 74, San Clemente 73 (OT)--After missing a layup at the buzzer, Dan Galvanoni sank two free throws with six seconds remaining in overtime to give Capistrano Valley (15-9, 4-4) the victory.