Mater Dei Is a 50-45 Loser to Fremont

Oakland Fremont waited a long time to win its second boys’ state championship.

The Tigers were champions of the inaugural tournament in 1917, but had been to the finals only once under the modern format that began in 1981.

That was in 1995 when Fremont lost to Santa Ana Mater Dei in overtime.

On Saturday night, Fremont finally won its championship by defeating Mater Dei, 50-45, in the Division I final before 5,196 at Arco Arena.

The Tigers are the first Division I state champion from Northern California since 1992.

“Our ’95 team was full of stars,” Fremont Coach Clinton Williams said. “This team is full of quickness and underachievers.”

The Tigers (29-4) won by beating Mater Dei at its game, matching the Monarchs push for push and shove for shove and maintaining its composure through a gritty final 2 minutes 30 seconds.

“They put a lot of pressure on you and cause you to play not as organized or as well,” Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight said.

The loss was only the second in a state final for Mater Dei (34-4), which won state championships in 1987, ’90 and ’95. The Monarchs lost to Alameda St. Joseph in 1992.

Jermaine Turner scored 14 points and Lance Pitts had 12 for Fremont, which won despite making only five of 19 free throws. The Tigers benefited from Mater Dei’s uncharacteristically poor free throw shooting; the Monarchs made only 12 of 25.

“I don’t think we got into our offense five times,” Mater Dei guard Imran Sufi said. “They took us out of our game. We still had a chance to win it. I’m surprised.”

Mike Bayer scored 12 points and had 10 rebounds for Mater Dei. Jamal Sampson had seven points and 10 rebounds despite breaking his finger in the second quarter.

Fremont led, 25-23, at halftime, but trailed, 35-34, at the end of the third quarter.

Pitts put the Tigers ahead, 43-41, with a three-point basket with 2:31 left.

Then it became a matter of hanging on.

Mater Dei had proved it could win close games with a two-point victory over City Section champion Manual Arts in the regional semifinals and an overtime victory over Lakewood Artesia in the regional final.

But Fremont held off every challenge.

Mater Dei pulled to within 47-45 on a putback by senior forward Mike Bayer with 15.2 seconds left.

Josh Shavies increased the lead to three by making one of two free throws with 13.6 seconds remaining.

Mater Dei’s last chance came on the ensuing possession.

Junior guard Steve Scoggin dribbled up the court, trying to get into three-point range, but guard Mario Vital stole the ball near midcourt and was fouled by Bayer.

Vital missed two free throws, but Shavies tipped the rebound on the second miss, Turner tipped it again, and Turner tipped it a third time into the basket for the final points as time expired.

Fremont’s victory completed two days of championship games in 10 divisions.

It also averted a sweep of the boys’ divisions by Southern California regional winners. Compton Dominguez won Division II, Fresno Washington Union won Division III, Verbum Dei defended its Division IV title and Oxnard Santa Clara won Division V.

Northern California teams won four of five girls’ divisions.