PREP BASKETBALL / STATE TOURNAMENT SOUTHERN REGIONAL FINALS : BOYS’ DIVISION I : Mater Dei Rolls Over Clovis West, 78-51

It was not the same without Crenshaw High.

For the first time in the last three years, the Santa Ana Mater Dei boys’ basketball team did not have to face Crenshaw in the Southern Regional Division I final.

The absence was noticeable as top-seeded Mater Dei had no trouble defeating Fresno Clovis West, 78-51, before 10,715 at The Pond of Anaheim on Saturday night.

The Monarchs (35-1) lost to Crenshaw in the last two regional finals by a combined six points. Both games were decided in the final minute.

But Crenshaw, the City Section Division 4-A champion, was upset by Clovis West, 67-62, in the second round of the regionals last Thursday.

As a result, Mater Dei, ranked No. 1 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, faced a Clovis West team that never had played in a regional final before. In fact, no boys’ team from Central California had ever advanced as far in the major division.

“I know the L.A. and Orange County communities would have preferred a Mater Dei-Crenshaw match-up,” said Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight. “You probably would have seen at least 3,000 more people in the stands and a closer game.

“They’ve been a thorn in my side for years,” he said. “I always welcome an opportunity to play them.”

Said Mater Dei forward Schea Cotton, echoing the sentiments of his teammates. “This was a big letdown. We all wanted to play Crenshaw.”

Mater Dei, which extended its winning streak to 24 games since losing in the final of the Las Vegas Holiday tournament in December, will face Oakland Fremont (27-5) in the state championship game next Saturday night at 8 at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

For a time Saturday, it appeared as if Mater Dei would set a tournament record for the largest margin of victory. It set a Southern Section record last weekend after defeating La Puente Nogales by 50 points in the I-A final. So when it jumped out to a 22-5 lead in the first quarter against Clovis West, another rout appeared likely.

The Monarchs, however, struggled from the floor in the second and third quarters, allowing the Golden Eagles to keep their slim hopes alive. They pulled to within 10 points, 37-27, midway through the third quarter.

That is when forwards Shaun Jackson and Cotton took charge, leading an 18-5 run that helped put the game out of reach.

Jackson, a 6-foot-6 senior headed to Wyoming, turned in one of his top performances of the season despite splitting his chin in the second quarter. He finished with a game-high 26 points and 14 rebounds. Cotton, a 6-5 sophomore, had 20 points and nine rebounds.

Clovis West struggled all over the court.

“It was a honor to be here, but to be honest, we’re not even in the same league as them,” said Clovis West Coach Vance Walberg.