SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : Mater Dei Too Much for Nogales : Division I-A boys: Cotton works his magic despite a bad ankle as the Monarchs breeze past the Nobles, 83-33.

If this was what Mater Dei’s Schea Cotton can do on a bad ankle, then La Puente Nogales wants no part of him healthy.

Cotton, who injured his left ankle in Friday’s practice, hardly looked handicapped in the Monarchs’ 83-33 victory over La Puente Nogales Saturday night in the Southern Section Division I-A championship game. It was the largest margin of victory in a section title game, sending the Monarchs into the State playoffs in style.

Cotton scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. By the time he was finished, a section-record crowd of 15,103 at The Pond had seen his best, even if it came on one leg.

“I just put that out of my mind,” Cotton said. “I convinced myself I wasn’t injured.”

Coach Gary McKnight was a little harder to win over.

“That thing swelled up so big, we’re talking baseball here,” McKnight said. “I was ready to kill myself for having a hard practice the day before a title game.”

McKnight was feeling a lot less suicidal three minutes into the game.

By then, Cotton had 10 points and the Monarchs had a 10-2 lead and were well on their way to a 10th section championship--third most in section history.

Long Beach Poly has won 14 and Oxnard Santa Clara 13.

This one, though, out-shined an of the Monarchs’ title game performances from the past, or anyone else’s, for that matter.

Long Beach Poly defeated North Torrance, 90-48, in 1965 Division I. The Monarchs had no problem topping that margin.

They have won 21 consecutive games since losing to Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy, 55-53, in the Las Vegas Reeebok Classic final. No team has come within 20 points of them since, but this was their most impressive whipping.

“Our 1985 team played pretty well in the championship game, but nothing like this,” McKnight said. “I was unprepared for this.”

Cotton started with a three-pointer. He mixed a variety of twisting drives and power moves, more than a few of which ended with dunks.

Late in the first quarter, Cotton stutter-stepped and whipped through the lane, finishing with a two-handed slam. It gave the Monarchs a 16-2 lead.

“When I dunked that one, it assured me the injury was all in my mind,” Cotton said.

He kept up those mind games throughout the half. Mater Dei (32-1) led, 38-10, at halftime, with Cotton and center Shaun Jackson having things their way on offense.

Cotton made nine of 13 shots in the first half and had 21 points. He also had nine rebounds. He made 12 of 18 shots for the game.

Jackson chipped in eight points in the first half, including six consecutive to start the second quarter, and had seven rebounds. Jackson finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Their performance was equaled on defense, as the Monarchs stopped what until now had been considered an unstoppable player.

Shomario Richard, Nogales’ showtime point guard, started the game averaging nearly 30 points and 10 assists. But the curtain never went up.

Richard was 0 for 7 in the first half and didn’t score until making one of two free throws with 4.5 seconds left. He finished with seven points, making only two of 12 shots.

He had 787 career assists entering the game, fourth-most in section history. He had one assist.

Kevin Augustine was mainly responsible, as he dogged the taller Richard from the start.

William Porter, Nogales’ other highlight reel guard, found few spotlight moments himself. He averages 19 points, but Saturday was only two of nine in the first half. Mike Waugh rode him around the court, with help from Jackson and Cotton inside.

It was a complete package that needed only one more thing.

Said Cotton: “I’m going to go home and put some ice on this ankle.”