Servite Can’t Handle Mater Dei

New league? No problem.

Mater Dei proved once again that it is in a league of its own with a 77-37 drubbing of Servite in a Serra League boys’ basketball opener Wednesday at the Bren Center.

Mater Dei (18-1) took control with a second-half rampage, opening the third quarter with a 21-5 run after taking a modest 29-20 halftime lead.

Mater Dei and Servite, Angelus League foes in the early 1990s before releaguing separated the parochial powers, were reunited by another releaguing plan this last year.

But Mater Dei, which regularly tore through the South Coast League, looks on track to do the same in the Serra.

“It’s the first time we’ve had them on our schedule in six years,” Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight said. “It’s nice to have them back.”

The Monarchs played their third straight game without 6-foot-11 center Jamal Sampson, who has the flu. McKnight said he expects Sampson to return for three tough games this weekend against Santa Margarita, Los Alamitos and San Diego University.

It was Mater Dei’s second game without Eric and Lance Soderberg, the brothers who transferred to Corona Centennial over the Christmas break.

Mike Strawberry, getting extra playing time in their absence, had 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Steve Scoggin led Mater Dei with 20 points.

Martin Iti, Servite’s 7-foot center, had 14 points and nine blocked shots. But Servite (12-6) was dismal on offense, making just 12 of 47 field-goal attempts (26%).

In another Serra League game:

No. 7 Santa Margarita 55, Bellflower St. John Bosco 53--Travis Smith made two free throws with four seconds remaining for Santa Margarita (14-3, 1-0). R.J. Socci scored 20 points to lead the Eagles.