Mater Dei, Artesia advance to state finals

The last time Santa Ana Mater Dei played a game at UCLA, the Monarchs lost by six points to Akron (Ohio) St. Vincent-St. Mary’s in the 2003 Pango Dream Classic.

“Yeah, that team had some guy named LeBron James,” Monarchs Coach Gary McKnight said.

The top-seeded Monarchs probably will have better memories of Pauley Pavilion after a 70-62 victory over Redondo on Saturday in the Southern California Regional Division II championship game.

Mater Dei (32-4), making its third consecutive trip to the state finals, will play San Jose Archbishop Mitty at 8 p.m. Friday at Arco Arena. The Monarchs also will be looking for a happier ending in Sacramento, where they have lost their last game the last two years.

Redondo (28-6) made Mater Dei earn its return trip. The sixth-seeded Sea Hawks, who trailed, 40-26, at halftime, got to within 56-54 on a three-pointer by senior forward Shane Morgan with 3:34 left.

But Redondo could get no closer. The Sea Hawks got to the foul line 28 times but converted only 18 free throws.

Mater Dei senior forward Taylor King, who is headed to Duke, led all scorers with 29 points despite fouling out in the fourth quarter.

Lakewood Artesia 79, La Canada 54 -- The top-seeded Pioneers (32-2), who led by as many as 27 points in the second half of the Division III regional final at Pauley Pavilion, earned a chance to defend their state title at 2:45 p.m. Saturday against Oakland Bishop O’Dowd at Arco Arena.

Artesia 6-foot-10 sophomore center Renardo Sidney finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds before leaving the game with 3:05 left to play. Sidney had 14 points and 10 rebounds by halftime, and the Pioneers had a 43-24 lead.

James Harden scored 17 for Artesia and Malik Story, who said Saturday that he has decided to enroll next fall at Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy, had 12.

Adam Malik, who had been averaging nearly 30 points a game in the postseason for sixth-seeded La Canada (30-4), was held to 14.

-- Mike Terry

North Hollywood Campbell Hall 62, San Diego Horizon 59 -- Horizon came back from two 16-point deficits during the Division IV regional final, but Jrue and Justin Holiday helped preserve top-seeded Campbell Hall’s victory at Cal State Fullerton.

Justin Holiday had 24 points and 20 rebounds, but his biggest contribution may have been tying up Jeff Withey as second-seeded Horizon’s 7-foot center spun toward the basket with 18.5 seconds left and his team trailing by one. The possession arrow pointed to Campbell Hall and Jrue Holiday, who finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, made two free throws.

Campbell Hall (32-1), playing for a state title for the second time in three years, will meet Santa Rosa Cardinal Newman at 11:15 a.m. Saturday at Arco Arena

Los Angeles View Park 60, Los Angeles Price 56 -- Second-seeded View Park, in only its second season of varsity competition, knocked off the six-time state finalist in the Division V regional final at Fullerton.

The leading scorer and rebounder for top-seeded Price (28-6), 6-foot-7 junior center Tyreese Breshers, picked up his third foul midway through the second quarter. He played only five minutes in the first half and scored only two points.

View Park junior guard Jason Pruitt scored 12 of his 20 points in the second half. He was the only player in double figures for the Knights (23-11), who will play Ross Branson in a state final at 2 p.m. Friday at Arco Arena.

-- Dan Arritt