Junior Class

Junior Steve Scoggin knows that being named The Times Orange County player of the year carries a heavy weight.

Next season, people will expect even greater things.

But if his performance--and durability--this season are any indications, Scoggin, who guided Mater Dei to the state Division I championship game, is up to the task. He led the Monarchs in scoring (14.3) and free-throw percentage (74.7%).

But more importantly, in a season in which Coach Gary McKnight rarely had his true starting five on the floor at the same time, Scoggin led Mater Dei in minutes played.

“He’s very gutsy,” McKnight said. “He may miss a couple of shots but he still keeps coming at you. A lot of kids would stop taking their shot or go in the tank, but he doesn’t.”

Case in point: In the Southern California final March 13, Mater Dei blew a 10-point lead and was tied with Lakewood Artesia when Scoggin missed a running lay-up attempt that would have won the game as regulation expired.

“A lot of kids would get down on themselves when they do that, but he came right back at the start of the overtime and hit that big shot to get us going,” assistant coach Dave Taylor said. “Usually, when a team loses a lead like that in regulation, they lose the game in overtime.”

Instead, Scoggin’s jumper started the Monarchs on their way to a 68-55 victory.

Scoggin, who has been on the varsity since he was a freshman, says he’s just a product of his environment.

“My role is to lead the team in close games,” he said. “To never have a bad day of practice, to help the others on the team to have a good day in practice.”

One of three brothers whose father was a high school basketball coach, Scoggin learned toughness early.

“I was the baby of three boys,” he said. “They pushed me to work harder. You’ve got to be tough because you’re the one that gets picked on.”

Scoggin’s dad, Steve, coached at Glendora and University high schools.

“He has been a great influence on me,” Steve Scoggin, the player, said. “We played basketball together. Basically, he has been my coach all my life. He taught me how to shoot and how to dribble.”

Scoggin displayed those talents as a freshman in the 1996-97 season and got some quality playing time as the season went on. McKnight predicted then that Scoggin might develop into one of the better guards in the county.

Last season, as Mater Dei “struggled” to a 21-8 record and was eliminated from the Southern Section Division I-A playoffs in the semifinals by San Bernardino Pacific, Scoggin solidified his role as a starting guard, often running the offense.

But when this season rolled around, he caught the flu and did not start in the Monarchs’ 54-42 loss to Glendora.

Scoggin made only two of 11 field-goal attempts and scored six points in 26 minutes of play, hardly material one would consider for county player of the year honors.

But Scoggin endured and McKnight credits him with rallying the Monarchs, much like he did against Artesia, with key plays time and time again.

“In the last couple of years he’s carried us to big wins,” McKnight said. “He has a toughness few others have. These days, players have lots of excuses for why they win or lose. He doesn’t make excuses.”

Scoggin said he hopes his legacy will be recognition for how hard he works all the time.

“This is a great honor,” he said. “But the only people I want to impress are my coaches, my teammates, my parents and myself.”