Monarchs Control the Second Half, Defeat Villa Park

Villa Park’s hot shooting touch was bound to cool off, and it did. Mater Dei’s Jamal Sampson and Cedric Bozeman, who struggled offensively in the first half, were bound to find their games in the second half, and they did.

With those factors coming into play, what had been a close game in the third quarter between two of the county’s top teams turned into a rout as No. 1 Mater Dei won, 66-48, Saturday before an overflow crowd at Cal State Fullerton.

“They came out strong and we didn’t come out like we wanted to,” said Monarch guard Ricky Porter, who scored a game-high 20 points. “When Jamal’s shots weren’t falling, we started looking to other players until he warmed up.”

Sampson and Bozeman, two of Mater Dei’s top scoring threats, shot a combined two for 12 in the first two quarters, yet the Monarchs still led at the half, 28-23, thanks to some timely shooting by Porter.

No. 5 Villa Park took a 32-30 lead in the third quarter before Mater Dei (14-2) went on a 20-3 run, sparked by Bozeman’s scoring drives and Sampson’s inside presence.

After shooting 41% in the first half and hitting on five three-pointers, the Spartans (13-3) were held to 29% shooting in the second half. Sampson, who had 14 points and 10 rebounds, dominated the lane and allowed the Monarch defense to pressure Villa Park’s outside shooters.

“They just wore us out in the fourth quarter,” said Villa Park Coach Kevin Reynolds. “They’re just a very good basketball team and they make you pay for every mistake you make.”

Bozeman made the Spartans pay in the second half, when he turned two steals into dunks and scored 13 of his 18 points.

“He can penetrate, he can post up, he’s such a tough match-up,” Reynolds said of Bozeman. “There isn’t anything he can’t do.”

Sean Phaler led Villa Park with 15 points, and Matt MacGinnis and Corey Miller had 11 points each.

In other nonleague games:

Huntington Beach 59, Estancia 48--Huntington Beach made eight of 12 free throws and three three-pointers in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. Mike Sullivan had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Oilers (8-8).

Micah Young scored 22 points for Estancia (4-9).

No. 7 Newport Harbor 44, Fountain Valley 36--Aaron Yarnal was seven for seven from the free-throw line and has made 31 consecutive for the Sailors (14-2). Yarnal finished with 13 points and Tony Melum added 10 for Newport Harbor.

In the Express League:

No. 4 Ocean View 82, Servite 47-- Marques Crane had 22 points and Torin Beeler had 20 for Ocean View (14-2).