HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : Mater Dei Converts Third Try Against Buena, 57-53 : Girls: Bulldogs can’t repeat past success in Division I-A title game.

As girls’ basketball coach at Buena High, Joe Vaughan has won more Southern Section championships than anyone in the region.

He’s also lost the most, a by-product of operating a powerhouse program that has advanced to the final 11 times in his 21 seasons.

That experience was little consolation Friday after the Bulldogs fell to Mater Dei, 57-53, in the Southern Section Division I-A championship game at the Pyramid.

“It’s tough,” Vaughan said. “As long as you’re competitive, it will be.”

Top-seeded Buena (23-3), ranked third in the state, was appearing in its sixth consecutive final and looking for a third title in a row.

Mater Dei had other ideas.

The Monarchs (25-1) lost to the Bulldogs in last season’s title game, then dropped another decision to their nemesis in January at Buena.

“We owed them two times,” said Mater Dei guard Melody Peterson, who scored 24 points.

Peterson scored 14 in the first half as the Monarchs bolted to a 34-22 lead.