Monarchs Enjoy Free Opportunities

If free-throw shooting is becoming a lost art in basketball, then Mater Dei found buried treasure Saturday at the Pond.

To collect their sixth consecutive Division I-A title with an 88-70 victory over Etiwanda, the Monarchs had an advantage in height, outrebounding the Eagles, 33-17, and the advantage of Kevin Augustine’s 32 points.

But the biggest advantage was at the line, where Mater Dei (30-1) made 33 of 35 free throws.

Tom Lippold and Mike Vukovich had the only misses in the game. Augustine was a perfect 18 of 18 from the line. (One other attempt did not count because of a lane violation.)

“I usually don’t talk about free-throw shooting,” Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight said. “I can’t say it’s bad luck but if you are doing well, the minute you start talking about it you go bad.”

Augustine’s effort was more impressive when you consider he averages around 70% for the season, and normally shoots about 10 a game. Mix in a sore right shoulder, because he shoots right-handed.

“It just seemed like everything was going in,” Augustine said. “One of those nights. I was just focusing as much as I could, with my shoulder. But we do work on free throw shooting. They’re usually important in games like this when every point counts.”

Lippold was five for six, Vukovich was three for four. Even reserve Steve Scoggin made all four of his attempts.

David Castleton made only one free throw, but it was the biggest one of the game. With 4:26 to play, Castleton was fouled when attempting a three-point shot. The four-point play pushed the Monarchs to a 69-55 lead, giving them the cushion they needed to cut off Etiwanda’s upset bid.

“I’ve never had one of those in a championship game,” Castleton said. When asked if he “helped” the referee’s call by exaggerating the bump by Eagle’s defender Matt Donahue, Castleton grinned and said, “No, he got me all right.”

And as Donahue and the rest of the Eagles found out Saturday, the free-throw line was the worst place to put any Mater Dei player.