Rigdon Doesn’t Mind Playing Team Game at Mater Dei

Dylan Rigdon of Mater Dei High School is capable of scoring 25 to 30 points every time he steps on the basketball court. So what’s stopping him?

His coach.

“I learned my lesson 5 years ago when we had Tom Lewis,” Gary McKnight said. “He averaged 35 points per game and we came up 1 point short of a Southern Section title. We were too one-dimensional. I swore I would never do it again.”

Which makes Rigdon, The Times’ athlete of the week, just another part of the offense, not its focal point. Still, Rigdon is not forgotten.

Last week in the Tournament of Champions at Ocean View High School, Rigdon scored 87 points in 4 games, including a 32-point performance against Serra. He also scored 17 in a 58-43 victory over Ocean View in the championship game Saturday and was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

“I was kind of surprised that I was named the MVP,” Rigdon said. “The way we played defense, it should have gone to the entire team. But winning is the important thing.”

Rigdon learned that lesson earlier this season.

In the final of the Newport-Mesa tournament, Rigdon scored 26 points, yet the Monarchs lost to Saddleback, 59-56. It was a humbling defeat for Mater Dei, which has won five Southern Section championships in the past 6 years.

“I was forcing shots I shouldn’t have been taking,” said Rigdon, who has signed a letter of intent with UC Irvine. “Great players win games, but great teams win championships. There are five of those banners hanging in the Mater Dei gymnasium because they were great teams. Coach McKnight pounds that into our heads almost every day.”

Rigdon was a starter on last season’s 5-A championship team.

Although he is a great shooter, especially from behind the 3-point line, consistency has been a problem for Rigdon. He scored 25 points in the Southern Section semifinals against St. Bernard but only 4 in the title game against Bishop Amat.

“Dylan really had a roller-coaster season last year,” McKnight said. “But he’s been a lot more patient this season, that’s the key for him.

“He’s a great shooter and it’s real tempting to let him shoot 3-point field goals. But that would make us too easy to stop. We don’t need him to score 30 points.”

Which is fine with Rigdon.

“I have to work within the offense,” he said. “If I don’t get my shots, I don’t get my shots. As long as the team wins.”

TOP PERFORMERS

Mike Curtis of Estancia scored 57 points in 3 games to help the Eagles win the La Quinta tournament title. Curtis was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Scott McCorkle of Capistrano Valley scored 130 points in 4 games as the Cougars finished third in the Tournament of Champions. McCorkle was named to the all-tournament team.

Raphael Molle of Irvine scored 80 points in 5 games to lead the Vaqueros to the Irvine tournament title. Molle was named the tournament’s most valuable player.