Depleted Monarchs Hang On, Beat Fontana

Message from Mater Dei to star forward Jamal Sampson: Get well--and soon.

Without Sampson in the lineup for a second consecutive game, the top-ranked Monarchs sputtered for extended periods Saturday night before pulling out a 65-62 nonleague victory over Fontana at Ocean View High.

The game’s outcome was in doubt until the final seconds, when Mater Dei’s Ricky Porter partially blocked a three-point attempt by Fontana guard Michael Stephenson. The Steelers’ Wesley Washington picked up the rebound but couldn’t get another shot off before the final buzzer.

Earlier in the week, Mater Dei (17-1) also struggled without Sampson in a victory over Foothill. Sampson, out all week with the flu, is expected back soon.

The Monarchs were also playing for the first time without forwards Lance and Erik Soderberg, who left the school earlier this week to attend Corona Centennial, their hometown school.

“We’re going through a little transition time right now,” Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight said. “Not having Jamal hurts. But we’ve got to find a way to win as a team.”

Guard Cedric Bozeman had a big game in Sampson’s absence, scoring 23 points. Forward Mike Strawberry added 11 points and nine rebounds, and Porter finished with 13 points, including a three-point play that put the Monarchs ahead for good early in the fourth quarter.

Stephenson led Fontana (10-6) with 17 points and Trevante Nelson had 14. Nelson gave the Steelers their biggest lead of the back-and-forth game, 53-49, on a three-pointer to open the fourth quarter.

But the Monarchs scored the next seven points on two free throws by Christian McGuigan, Porter’s three-point play and a Strawberry basket inside. Their lead fluctuated between one and six points before a turnover by guard Steve Scoggin with 24 seconds left gave Fontana its final chance.