Mater Dei Uses Late Free Throws to Beat Cougars

Freshman Cedric Bozeman made three of four free throws in the final 20 seconds to give Mater Dei a 50-47 victory over Capistrano Valley in a South Coast League opener Friday night at Capistrano Valley High.

Bozeman gave the eighth-ranked Monarchs a 49-45 lead with 20.4 left when he made two free throws after an intentional foul.

Mike Stowell took the inbounds pass for Capistrano Valley (11-5) and drove length of the court for a layup with 12.4 left, pulling the Cougars within two points, 49-47. Lucas Pace got an intentional foul and Bozeman went to the line again. After missing the first, Bozeman made the second free throw to give the Monarchs (9-4) a three-point lead and junior Jermaine McDaniel missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer.

Although free throws gave the Monarchs the victory, Capistrano Valley Coach Brian Mulligan says it cost the Cougars the upset.

“We didn’t make our free throws,” said Mulligan, whose team was 10 of 17 from the line. “I told the kids before the game that we had to make our free throws and minimize turnovers. Our turnovers weren’t too bad, but two of our best free-throwers missed their free throws at the end of the third.”

The Monarchs made 21 of 24 from the line.

Though the final two minutes were exciting, the first 30 minutes were all defense. Mater Dei shot 28%, making only one of 13 from three-point territory. Capistrano Valley shot 34% from the field.

“I think both teams played poorly,” Mulligan said. “But I think we are definitely two of the better defensive teams in the county.”

Sophomore guard Steve Scoggin, who leads the Monarchs in scoring with a 14.6-point average, made only one of his first six shots. He finished the game with nine points on three of 15 shooting. Junior guard Derrick Mansell, who averages 10.1 points, was zero for six from the field, five of those coming from three-point range. He finished with two points. Junior forward Mike Bayer was the only Monarch able to consistently put the ball in the basket, hitting five of 10, finishing with team-high 14 points and seven rebounds.

Capistrano Valley was led by junior Mike Stowell, who had 14 points, and senior Josh Garrett, who made five of 12 from the field for 13 points.