It all falls into line for Mater Dei in state final

SACRAMENTO -- Never did Coach Gary McKnight expect his Santa Ana Mater Dei High basketball team to survive a demolition derby in the foul department, requiring him to reluctantly use his reserves during the state Division II boys’ championship game Friday night at Arco Arena.

In the end, Mater Dei’s Andy Brown brought calm and a resolution to a 52-foul game, scoring 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter while making seven of nine free throws to deliver a 65-53 victory over San Jose Archbishop Mitty.

It was McKnight’s seventh state title and one of his most fulfilling, considering Mater Dei (35-1) lost in the Southern Section Division I-AA final two weeks ago and had to knock off the consensus No. 1 team in the state in Mitty (32-2).

“Both teams were getting foul after foul,” McKnight said. “There was no flow to the game.”

Mitty committed 27 of the fouls, with two players fouling out. But it was Brown’s aggressiveness in the fourth quarter that proved decisive.

“They were calling it pretty tight,” Brown said. “If you took the ball and went to the basket, you were going to get a call. That’s what I did.”

Mater Dei came away with a 34-24 halftime lead despite its starting guards, Gary Franklin Jr. and Blake Arnet, each picking up three fouls.

Rarely used reserves Collin Krahe, Bobby Schultz and Connor Hughes made important contributions at the end of the second quarter when Mater Dei scored the final seven points.

McKnight used five reserves, something he hasn’t done all season against a top opponent with the game on the line. But he had no choice with the fouls piling up.

By the third quarter, the officials were seemingly blowing their whistle on every possession, with both teams complaining. And the officials were almost equal in their treatment, calling eight fouls on Mater Dei and six on Mitty in the period.

But Mater Dei, with the weaker bench, started to pay a price in the attrition department. Arnet, Travis Wear and Brown each picked up his fourth foul, and Mater Dei’s lead was 44-34.

Mitty launched a comeback behind 6-foot-8 Enoch Andoh, who discovered the middle was suddenly easy pickings. He scored his team’s first seven points of the fourth quarter.

Then Travis Wear fouled out with 6:21 left. A Drew Gordon basket completed an 11-1 Mitty spurt that tied the score at 45-45 with 5:09 left.

That’s when Brown stepped up to become Mater Dei’s go-to offensive player. He contributed a three-point play to put the Monarchs back on top, 48-45. Then came a basket and two free throws. Mater Dei led, 52-47, with just over two minutes left, and McKnight had his scenario for victory.

Mitty shot only 24% in the first half and 31% for the game.

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eric.sondheimer@latimes.com