Santa Margarita Stops Mater Dei

Santa Ana Mater Dei and Fullerton Rosary have been favored to win the Serra League girls’ basketball title the last two seasons, but for the second year in a row, Santa Margarita is the team that will hang a banner.

The Eagles, ranked No. 22 by The Times, used hot shooting and took advantage of cold shooting by its opponent to clinch the title with a 52-25 victory over No. 23 Mater Dei on Tuesday night at Santa Margarita.

Going into the fourth quarter, when the reserves cleaned up, Santa Margarita (19-3, 5-0) held a 48-11 lead.

Mater Dei (19-5, 2-3) did not reach double-figure scoring until 3 minutes 20 seconds remained in the third quarter.

The Monarchs made five of 46 shots though three quarters--a little less than 11%.

“I think our defense deserves a little credit for that,” said Santa Margarita’s Garland Cooper, who scored 14 points and had seven rebounds.

Mater Dei shot 41% as a team going into the game.

“I’ve never seen anything like that in 10 years,” Mater Dei Coach Geri Campeau said. “That’s really not our team.”

Mater Dei’s top scorers, Amy Sanders and Ashley Voisinet, scored only two points apiece. Jen Rogers scored a team-high eight points, all in the fourth quarter.

Martin Henderson

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Irvine Woodbridge 69, Laguna Hills 40--Lauren Riley had 16 points and 13 rebounds and Katherine Geneau added 11 points, seven steals and five assists for No. 9 Woodbridge (22-2, 6-0) in a Sea View League game.

Megan Aaker scored 22 points for Laguna Hills (10-14, 2-3).

Alhambra Mark Keppel 76, Montebello Schurr 37--Jessica Liamg scored 19 points to lead No. 19 Mark Keppel (20-2, 7-0) in an Almont League game.

Newhall Hart 57, Burbank Burroughs 44--Ashlee Trebilcock had 22 points and seven assists, and Brandi Kimble had 17 points and 12 rebounds for No. 11 Hart (20-3, 7-0) in a Foothill League game.