Mater Dei Wins Despite Scare by Victor Valley

With a possible three games to play in the next five days, Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight just hoped to get out of Tuesday night’s boys’ basketball Division I Southern California Regional playoff opener at Ocean View High alive as easily as possible.

His team took it almost too easily.

The top-seeded Monarchs had a 21-point lead with five minutes remaining, but squandered all but five points of it as they held off Victorville Victor Valley, 85-77, in a first-round, Southern California Regional boys’ playoff game.

On Thursday, the Monarchs (33-1) will play Los Angeles Fremont, which defeated Del Mar Torrey Pines, 49-44. A decision to play at UC Irvine’s Bren Center or at Ocean View will be made today.

It took six free throws in the final 32 seconds for Mater Dei to secure its 33rd consecutive victory. Victor Valley, a wild card in the state playoffs, made only 15 of 57 field goals Saturday, surrendered a two-point halftime lead, and lost to Long Beach Jordan, 54-38, in the Southern Section Division I-AA final at the Pond.

The visitors had that loss on their minds Tuesday, and their gritty determination was a perfect antithesis for Mater Dei’s uneven play.

Mater Dei was outrebounded, 14-7, in the first quarter and trailed, 16-14, only to score 46 points in the second and third quarters, giving the Monarchs a commanding 60-44 lead.

David Castleton, playing his finest quarter of the season, was at the heart of the Monarch rally in the second half. Castleton, a junior guard, scored 10 points, pulled off a steal and rebound that ultimately led to baskets and his assist pass to forward Brad Williams was at the heart of a 16-9 run that closed the third quarter.

McKnight made a good defensive decision, opening the second quarter with a rare zone defense. Victor Valley couldn’t get easy layups, and Mater Dei exploited its decided height advantage on the backboards. The Monarchs had a 45-35 rebounding edge in the game.

Mater Dei led, 71-50, and was cruising when Victor Valley put on a spirited rally. Three consecutive three-point baskets by Rashud Thomas highlighted a 16-4 charge and suddenly Mater Dei’s lead was 75-67 with two minutes to go. Dashmond Sylvester hit an awkward, off-balance baseline jumper and the Jackrabbits trailed, 80-75, with 22 seconds left.

Down the stretch, Kevin Augustine made one of two free throws, reserve Jason Vallas made two free throws and Castleton sank two to end it.

“There were some big mistakes on our part,” Castleton said. “We’re getting used to big wins and when we got the lead we were just happy to be there and we made a lot of mental mistakes that allowed them to get open.”