Mater Dei (32-2) vs. Modesto Christian (34-3)

Saturday, 8 p.m. at Arco Arena, Sacramento

MATER DEI AT A GLANCE

* Nickname: Monarchs.

* Enrollment: 1,515.

* Coach: Gary McKnight.

* Southern Regional seeding: 1st.

* State titles: 3--1987, 1990, 1995.

* Last appearance in a state final: 1999. Mater Dei lost to Oakland Fremont, 50-45.

* Scoring leaders: Cedric Bozeman 19.7, Jamal Sampson 15.9, Ricky Porter 12.3, Mike Strawberry 9.1, Harrison Schaen 7.0.

* Rebound leaders: Sampson 10.0, Bozeman 5.6, Strawberry 5.2.

* Assist leaders: Bozeman 5.1, Shaun Michel 3.8.

* Road to Sacramento: The Southern Section Division I-A champions defeated Glendora, 75-38, in the first round of the Southern California Regional; defeated Upland, 61-56, in the semifinal; and defeated Fresno Clovis West, 80-62, in the final.

MODESTO CHRISTIAN AT A GLANCE

* Nickname: Crusaders.

* Enrollment: 270.

* Coach: Gary Porter.

* Northern Regional seeding: 2nd.

* State title: 1--1997 (Division V).

* Last appearance in a state final: 1997. Modesto Christian defeated San Diego Horizon, 57-51.

* Scoring leaders: Chuck Hayes 25, David Paris 13, Marc Pratt 12, Bobby Cole Jr. 10, James Noel 3.4.

* Rebound leaders: Hayes 18, Paris 12, Pratt 6.

* Road to Sacramento: The Sac-Joaquin Section Division I champions defeated San Francisco Lincoln, 80-53, in the first round of the Northern California Regional; defeated San Jose Andrew Hill, 90-74, in the semifinal; and defeated Concord De La Salle, 72-53, in the final.

POSITION BY POSITION

* FORWARD: This is the one position where Modesto Christian might have a slight edge. Kentucky-bound Chuck Hayes is a multi-dimensional 6-7 player who possesses power in the paint but can just as easily step out on the perimeter and knock down the jumper. Marc Pratt, a 6-5 junior, has a smooth shooting stroke. Mater Dei will counter with 6-5 Mike Strawberry and 6-9 Harrison Schaen, two players known more for defense than scoring.

* CENTER: It will be interesting to see how David Paris, the Crusaders’ 6-8, 260-pound big man, matches up against 6-11 Jamal Sampson. Sampson, who gets a lot of his points dunking over smaller players, has had difficulty against tall, thick centers in the past.

* GUARD: This will be the showcase position. Richard Midgley, a junior who plays a style similar to that of Stanford-bound Chris Hernandez of Fresno Clovis West (who gave Mater Dei fits, by the way), will lead the charge for the Crusaders. He will probably go up against Mater Dei’s Ricky Porter, who usually defends the opponent’s top guard. Porter has come up big with 20-point performances in each of the Monarchs’ last two games. Cedric Bozeman, Mater Dei’s leading scorer and one of the most dynamic guards to play in Orange County, will join Porter in the backcourt. Modesto Christian’s Bobby Cole Jr. isn’t flashy but doesn’t make many mistakes.

* COACHING: Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight (19th season, 575-51) has won 15 section titles, six regional titles and three state titles. Modesto Christian Coach Gary Porter (fifth season, 163-12) has won four section titles, two regional titles and one state title.

* THE PICK: Mater Dei’s experience will make the difference. The Monarchs have four seniors in their starting lineup, while the Crusaders have only one. Mater Dei also faced a slightly tougher schedule and has played in more big games over the last few years. Mater Dei by 7.

MATER DEI ROSTER

*--*

No. Player Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Cl. 3 Mike Strawberry F 6-5 190 Jr. 5 Trevante Nelson G 5-10 160 So. 11 Kenny Chicoine G 6-2 175 Jr. 12 Mike Garcia G 6-0 175 Sr. 14 Mark Brown G 6-2 160 Sr. 15 Shaun Michel G 6-3 190 Sr. 20 Ricky Porter G 6-2 180 Sr. 21 Cedric Bozeman G 6-6 180 Sr. 22 Wesley Washington G 6-3 160 So. 24 Travis Gabler G 6-3 180 Sr. 30 Brian Baker G 6-0 165 Sr. 31 Jamal Sampson C 6-11 220 Sr. 35 Travis Delgado F 6-6 200 Sr. 42 J.P. Voisnet F 6-3 175 Sr. 43 Jeremy Born G 6-4 180 Sr. 53 A.J. Ward F 6-6 175 Jr. 54 Harrison Schaen C 6-9 175 So.

*--*

MODESTO CHRISTIAN ROSTER

*--*

No. Player Pos. Hgt. Cl. 3 Jon Crenshaw G 6-1 Sr. 4 Chuck Hayes F 6-7 Sr. 5 Miles Scott G 5-10 Jr. 12 Brian Donham G 5-10 Jr. 14 James Noel F 6-6 Jr. 15 Richard Midgley G 6-2 Jr. 21 Marc Pratt F 6-4 Jr. 22 Jeff Porter G 6-1 Jr. 23 Josh Bouck G 5-9 Sr. 25 Kevin Bonner G 5-8 Sr. 32 Beau Brummell C 6-7 Sr. 33 Bobby Cole Jr. F 6-4 Jr. 44 Marshall Meyers F 6-1 Jr. 50 William Patterson C 6-5 Sr. 55 David Paris C 6-8 Jr.

*--*

SEASON LOGS

MATER DEI

La Habra W 107-42

Ontario W 89-77

* Serra W 87-37

* Pasadena W 73-39

* Redondo Union W 92-68

Carlsbad W 76-60

* Parkview Baptist W 91-38

* Clear Lake W 80-65

* St. Mary’s W 94-76

* Oak Hill L 66-55

* Myrtle Beach W 66-55

* Western Hills W 87-65

* Glynn Academy W 58-56

* Ballard L 71-67

Foothill W 81-44

at Villa Park W 66-48

at Servite W 94-45

at Santa Margarita W 71-51

Canyon W 104-79

Mayfair W 73-48

St. John Bosco W 87-44

Miami Christian W 87-55

Santa Margarita W 66-51

Servite W 78-50

Los Alamitos W 74-47

at St. John Bosco W 99-41

* Anaheim W 89-45

* La Sierra W 113-

* Canyon W 105-77

* Claremont W 85-61

* Centennial W 73-62

* Glendora W 75-38

* Upland W 61-56

* Clovis West W 80-62

* tournament

*

MODESTO

at McClymonds W 73-49

at St. Joseph W 76-59

at Oakland Fremont W 72-51

* Golden Valley W 95-51

* Davis W 88-58

* Sacramento Valley W 92-61

* Socastee W 86-49

* Bishop Gorman L 76-75

* L.A. Fremont W 70-61

* Clear Lake W 86-78

* Brookside Christian W 110-38

* Bellermine W 94-52

* Long Beach Poly W 69-56

* Inglewood W 77-72

* Compton Centennial W 95-81

Castlemont W 77-61

at Oakland W 84-67

Amador W 103-68

at Bret Harte W 96-74

at De La Salle L 60-58

at Golden Valley W 87-45

St. Mary’s W 78-76

at Argonaut W 106-79

at Christian Brothers W 90-56

St. Elizabeth W 92-67

Fresno Central W 92-53

at Clovis West L 95-94

at Salesian W 77-62

Hiram Johnson W 95-61

Samuel Hancock W 111-62

* Ceres W 69-48

* Tokay W 81-49

* Nevada Union W 75-54

* Jesuit W 79-62

* Lincoln W 80-53

* Andrew Hill W 90-74

* De La Salle W 72-53

* tournament