SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : DIVISION I-A QUARTERFINALS : Mater Dei Takes Next Step With Impressive 79-50 Victory

Each Schea Cotton dunk was a little more spectacular, Clay McKnight proved shooting is easiest when unguarded and the Mater Dei High championship coronation party is one game closer after the Monarchs’ 79-50 victory Friday night over Palmdale Highland in front of an overflow crowd at Ocean View.

Cotton had game-high totals with 33 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots. McKnight scored 17 points while making five of 10 three-pointers as top-seeded Mater Dei (30-1) cruised past Highland (16-7), which finished second in the Golden League. The Monarchs play Glendora in the Southern Section Division I-A boys’ basketball semifinals Tuesday. Glendora defeated Loyola, 55-53, in another quarterfinal.

Highland stayed in the game until late in the second quarter. After leading only 13-9 entering the quarter, Mater Dei used a quick 7-2 run to close the quarter and take a 34-19 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs might have made a game of it if Cotton and McKnight had not been able to pick up the slack for standout center Shaun Jackson, who fouled out with only four points and five rebounds. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Cotton and McKnight were as good as usual.

McKnight’s outside shooting forced the Bulldogs to come out of their 2-3 zone defense. That allowed Cotton to explode for an assortment of dunks and short jumpers.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Cotton also made two of the Monarchs’ eight three-pointers. Cotton made 13 of 20 field-goal attempts and 10 of his rebounds came on offense.

Cotton triggered an early exit by many Highland supporters when he caught a lob pass from point guard Kevin Augustine (10 points and eight assists) and dunked over several Bulldogs with 2 minutes 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The play gave Mater Dei a 49-25 lead.

“He can do whatever he wants to,” Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight said. “The things he does, his explosion . . . he’s incredible.”

The Monarchs’ defense also pleased McKnight. Highland shot only 35.7% from the field compared to 55.6% for Mater Dei. The Monarchs also had a huge rebounding edge, 46-27.

“The one factor always with Mater Dei is defense,” McKnight said. “Everything else might not work, but that’s always there.

“And to think, we basically played without Shaun.”

Jamal Dedeaux led Highland with 13 points and John Burrell scored 10.

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In another Division I-A game:

Corona 70, Fountain Valley 58--Paul Tayyar scored 19 points including four three-pointers for the Barons (19-8).