HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : Mater Dei’s Latest Is Also the Biggest : Southern Section: Monarchs roll over Nogales, 83-33, for fourth consecutive title.

Santa Ana Mater Dei High continued its reign Saturday night, crushing La Puente Nogales, 83-33, in the Southern Section boys’ Division I-A championship before 15,103 at The Pond of Anaheim.

The 50-point margin was the biggest in Southern Section finals history.

Mater Dei, ranked No. 1 in the Southland by The Times, won its fourth consecutive Southern Section title and 11th in the last 14 years.

Only Long Beach Poly (14) and Oxnard Santa Clara (13) have won more Southern Section titles.

Monarch Coach Gary McKnight saw his team improve to 32-1 after winning its 21st consecutive game--all by more than 20 points.

“This is one of the better teams we’ve ever had here,” said McKnight, who has coached Mater Dei since 1983. “We play great team defense, and tonight was extra great. We did a great job of defending their two guards.”

McKnight enjoyed perhaps his easiest run to a title thanks to sophomore sensation Schea Cotton. Cotton, a 6-foot-5 forward who played on a slightly injured ankle, once again led the way with 30 points and 12 rebounds.

Cotton, averaging 25 points and 11 rebounds, dominated inside, converting numerous layups and slam dunks.

“My ankle got pretty swollen yesterday, but I put the pain behind me,” Cotton said. “This is what you play for. You play for championships. It’s a lot of fun being on a team this good.”

How good?

“The only team that can beat us is us,” he said.

Cotton scored the Monarchs’ first 10 points to stake his team to an eight-point lead.

A dunk by Cotton gave Mater Dei a 16-4 lead after one quarter.

Mater Dei then outscored a nervous-looking Nogales team, 22-6, in the second quarter to take a 38-10 lead at the half.

Cotton scored 21 first-half points on nine-of-13 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds.

Nogales guard Richard Shomario, averaging 28 points and 10 assists, was held to one point and one assist in the first 16 minutes by Monarch point guard Kevin Augustine.

Mater Dei’s man-to-man defense forced Nogales (26-4) into 23 missed shots in 27 first-half attempts (15%).

By the end of the third quarter, Mater Dei had increased its lead to 59-25 and had begun clearing its bench.

Cotton left to a standing ovation with 4:23 remaining.

McKnight was asked what it’s like to coach Cotton.

“Are you kidding me?” he said. “It’s a heck of a lot of fun.”