Mater Dei Rallies Past San Clemente

Mater Dei, ranked eighth in Orange County, shot 56% from the field in the second half to overcome a 16-point deficit and beat fifth-ranked San Clemente, 60-56, Thursday in the Tritons’ gym.

Junior Lindsay Pavlik (13 points, 12 rebounds, six steals) was among many stars for Mater Dei, which surrendered an 18-2 run and fell behind, 36-23, at halftime.

“We realized [at halftime] we can’t do this individually,” said Pavlik, one of seven juniors on the 13-player roster. “We came out in the second half as a whole instead of a bunch of individuals.”

Working together on the defensive adjustments of assistant coach Geri Campeau, the Monarchs denied the ball to San Clemente’s best players, Colleen Turnbull and Debby Caine, disrupted the rhythm of the Tritons’ offense, forced 11 (of 19 total) turnovers and stole a victory.

Mater Dei (14-4, 5-1) and San Clemente (15-8, 5-1) have already beaten each team in the South Coast League.

Caine (10 points) and Turnbull (15 points) scored only nine--all by Turnbull (five from the free-throw line)--in the second half.

Freshman Amy Sanders, needed for her defense against Turnbull, scored six of her eight points in the fourth quarter as Mater Dei overcame a 42-37 deficit. It was Sanders’ 12-footer from the baseline that gave the Monarchs their first lead, 43-42, since late in the first quarter. It was part of an 18-2 run that stunned the large San Clemente crowd. Kyra Melville (14 points) scored eight during the run, and her three-pointer right after it provided a 48-44 lead.

Sanders also answered with baskets off a rebound and inside on a nifty pass from Maile Shimoda when San Clemente pulled within two points, 50-48 and 52-50, in the final 2:31.

San Clemente didn’t make its first fourth-quarter field goal until 16 seconds remained as Mater Dei stretched its lead to 58-51 on free throws by Shimoda and Pavlik.

In other league games:

Dana Hills 62, Trabuco Hills 46--Nicole Howard scored 23 points for host Dana Hills (16-5, 4-2), which outscored Trabuco Hills, 25-5, in the third quarter. Emily Deely led the Mustangs (6-14, 0-6) with 21 points.

Capistrano Valley 36, Mission Viejo 33--Stacey Watanabe scored 15 points to lead Capistrano Valley, which outscored Mission Viejo, 12-6, in the fourth quarter. Capistrano Valley improved to 7-10, 3-2. Mission Viejo fell to 7-14, 1-5.