Depleted Mater Dei Beats Eagles

At this rate it looks as if the only thing capable of stopping Mater Dei is the end of the season.

The top-ranked Monarchs were without three regulars Friday night in their Serra League showdown against No. 7 Santa Margarita and still managed to hold on for a 60-55 victory in the Eagles’ gym.

Mater Dei’s amazing depth became apparent--agonizingly so, for Santa Margarita--when the Monarchs (19-1, 2-0) bolted to a 12-4 lead and withstood a late challenge without their leading scorer, center Jamal Sampson (flu), and forward Mike Strawberry (flu) and guard Christian McGuigan (sprained ankle).

Mater Dei guard Cedric Bozeman compiled the best statistical line of the night with 17 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two blocked shots. Guard Steve Scoggin also came up big with 23 points, including five-of-11 shooting from three-point range.

“It was real nice to see different kids contribute,” Monarch Coach Gary McKnight said. “You’ve got three of your top six [players] not playing, and it’s a real tribute to Bozeman and Scoggin to step it up the way they did.”

Santa Margarita (14-4, 1-1), which has no starters back from last year’s team, still made it an interesting contest. The game was tied, 23-23, at halftime as the Eagles kept the game close with an abundance of second- and third-chance baskets.

After a lackluster third quarter, Santa Margarita trimmed what had been a 12-point deficit to one on a three-pointer by guard R.J. Socci with 2:25 to play.

But Bozeman responded with a driving layup and a three-pointer to give the Monarchs a 53-47 cushion with 1:10 to go. Mater Dei, which shot only 35.6% from the field, hit seven of eight free throws in the final minute to close out the victory.

Socci finished with 12 points for Santa Margarita, which shot only 35.2% from the field, while Lenny Collins scored a game-high 13. Travis Smith and Adam Tancredi each added 10 for the Eagles.

Santa Margarita Coach Jerry DeBusk said he did not look at the defeat as a lost opportunity, even though the Monarchs were missing a large chunk of their roster.

“We didn’t know they were missing some starters until we went out on the court,” he said. “It wasn’t so much, ‘This is our chance and we have to capitalize on it.’

“[Mater Dei’s victory] is a credit to their players and good coaching. Bozeman, [forward Harrison] Schaen and Scoggin--those are Division I [college] players.”

McKnight said none of the three players who missed Friday’s game would likely play when the Monarchs meet fifth-ranked Los Alamitos at 4:30 this afternoon at Long Beach College.

Friday night’s tip-off was delayed an hour by an officiating snafu.

In another Serra League game:

Servite 61, Bellflower St. John Bosco 55--Roger Hogan led Servite with 21 points. Martin Iti had 13 rebounds, seven blocks and seven points for the Friars (13-6, 1-1).