Mater Dei Puts on Final Touch

For a team that was 7-4 at Christmas and falling off the radar screens of boys’ basketball gurus everywhere, Santa Ana Mater Dei High sure has found a way to put itself back on track to national prominence.

The top-seeded Monarchs routed second-seeded Pasadena, 65-49, Saturday night at the Arrowhead Pond in the Southern Section Division II-AA title game to win their 20th consecutive game and fourth straight section championship.

That’s 10 section titles in 11 seasons, for those counting at home.

It didn’t look as if Mater Dei would be adding any championship hardware to its collection earlier this season, after the Monarchs dropped three consecutive games for the first time in Coach Gary McKnight’s 20-year tenure.

But Mater Dei responded with poise and determination, going undefeated in an unusually tough Serra League and defeating Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy, then the No. 1 team in the nation.

Mater Dei (27-4) continued its strong play Saturday against cold-shooting Pasadena, clamping down on usually productive guards Dino Wilburn and Duwan Rice.

The Monarchs held Rice to eight points on three-of-14 shooting. Wilburn finished with 22 points, 15 coming in the fourth quarter with the game firmly in Mater Dei’s grasp.

The Bulldogs (26-5) shot 21.4% from the field in the first half and scored only six points in each of the second and third quarters as Mater Dei took a 39-23 lead going into the fourth. Pasadena made only five of 17 three-pointers and 10 of 28 free throws for the game.

“We couldn’t make our shots because of depth perception,” Pasadena Coach Tim Tucker said. “[We] have never played in this kind of arena before. I don’t think we made two free throws in a row. When we finally figured it out, the game was over.”

By contrast, Mater Dei shot 52.5% from the field. But with the exception of freshman point guard Mike Gerrity (eight assists, two turnovers), the Monarchs had trouble handling the ball, committing 18 turnovers.

Wesley Washington had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Mike Strawberry had 18 points for the Monarchs.