Mater Dei Cools Off Jacobsen

Santa Ana Mater Dei wrested the Southern Section Division I-A title from Glendora Saturday night by wearing down Tartan All-American Casey Jacobsen.

The Monarchs tugged, pulled at and generally harassed the senior guard throughout the game en route to a 46-40 victory before 11,473 at the Arrowhead Pond.

Jacobsen finished with 17 points--13 below his average--and the physical play appeared to wear him down. He made only one field goal in the second half, was four for 17 shooting for the game and missed his final four shots. Glendora scored only one point in the fourth quarter.

“I wasn’t tired but it takes its toll,” Jacobsen said. “[Mater Dei Coach Gary] McKnight sends four guys to beat . . . me. If that’s what he wanted to accomplish, it worked.”

Mater Dei sophomore Jamal Sampson, who had 15 points and 13 rebounds, broke a 40-40 tie with a dunk with 2:24 left.

Jacobsen missed a three-point shot from the left corner with 59 seconds left and Derrick Mansell gave the Monarchs some breathing room when he drove the baseline and just beat the shot clock buzzer with a basket that gave Mater Dei a 44-40 lead with 21 seconds left. Jacobsen missed a 15-foot jump shot under heavy pressure in the lane and Mater Dei sealed the win with two free throws by Mike Bayer with 7.8 seconds left.

Mater Dei (31-3) won its seventh title this decade. The Monarchs also avenged a 54-42 loss to Glendora on Dec. 2 in the Wooden Classic at the Pond.

Lakewood Artesia 49, Long Beach Poly 41--The Pioneers defended their I-AA title in a game that didn’t win either team many style points.

The Jackrabbits made only five of 26 shots (19%) in the first half and were 16 for 60 (27%) for the game. Junior point guard Wesley Stokes, who usually keys Poly’s offense, made only three of 11 shots and did not score his first point until 7:04 remained in the game. He finished with six points.

Senior forward Jason Kapono scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half for Artesia (30-2).

Compton Dominguez 75, Cerritos Gahr 56-In a matchup of Suburban League teams, the Dons (28-3) won their fifth consecutive section title, their first in II-AA.

Sophomore center Tyson Chandler scored 16 points and had eight rebounds and four blocks for Dominguez.

Michael Williams scored 13 points for Gahr (18-11).

Lakewood Mayfair 47, Inglewood 42--The unseeded Monsoons (25-6) continued a historic year at Mayfair, overcoming an 11-point deficit in the second half to beat the top-seeded Sentinels and win their first section basketball championship in II-A.

Mayfair also won its first section football title in the fall.

Sophomore swingman Josh Childress led the comeback, scoring 13 of his team-high 18 points in the second half.

San Dimas 62, Torrance Bishop Montgomery 55--San Dimas (25-3), which lost in the finals in 1992, ’93 and ‘94, won its first championship by getting out to an early lead and holding off the top-seeded Knights in III-AA.

San Dimas guard D.J. Hackett scored 29 points.